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Seafloor Characterization of the U.S. Caribbean |
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March 1, 2004
Nancy Foster Mission Cruise Update #10
The weather that began to build up yesterday afternoon persisted through the late night hours and on into this morning. With winds gusting to 30 knots, and wave forecasts of 8-11 feet, all dive operations had to be suspended. Because we had set out fish traps the evening before, we had to be sure to haul them today.....a task that proved to be no small feat. High seas made it nearly impossible to spot our floats, and when we were finally able to sight them, the Foster's able helmsmen and women had an even more difficult time bringing us along side of them in the high winds. We're happy to report; however, that we were able to retrieve the traps. What had usually taken us about 90 minutes (hauling all traps aboard), turned out to be a 4 hour effort! On a positive note, the trap hauls were rich with groupers. The image above shows NCCOS biologist Matt Kendall preparing a red hind (Epinephelus guttatus) to have its swim bladder vented prior to release.
The wind and seas continued to rise as the day progressed; so all trapping and SCUBA operations were called off for the remainder of the day. The picture below gives a general idea of the sea state for much of the day (and I suspect much of tonight as well). With little else to do this afternoon but hope for calmer seas, the mapping crew stepped out on the fantail for a bit of fresh air, and to express their feelings about today's ride.
With the extra time available for multibeam sonar mapping activities (in lieu of all of the diving, trapping, and MiniBatting), the mapping team completed all of the sonar activities in our primary target area, and now the Foster has moved on to a second target area further to the east. This area is an extension of the Mid-shelf Reef (MSR) that continues the entire length of St. Thomas, USVI. We've decided to leave you again tonight with an image of multibeam sonar derived bathymetry. This perspective view (looking from west to east) shows the about half of the MSR complex south of St. John (the primary target area). Approximate dimensions of the image are 10 kilometers long by 3.5 kilometers wide.
![[This perspective view (looking from west to east) shows the about half of the MSR complex south of St. John (the primary target area). Approximate dimensions of the image are 10 kilometers long by 3.5 kilometers wide]](/products/biogeography/usvi_nps/2004/images/10_4.jpg)
Keep your fingers crossed for calm weather, and be sure to check back again tomorrow for the next update from the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster.