September 11, 2022
The science teams took samples and cores from the shallow waters of the Chukchi Sea north of the Bering Strait. The samples were taken with a Van Veen clamshell mud grabber and a multicorer that drops several tubes approximately 30 cm into the mud. Both are used to look at small organisms. Mud samples from the Van Veen clamshell are hosed down in a box with a screen to retain the larger organisms.
Van Veen mud grabber
Multicorer
Sealife at bottom of screen after mud is washed away includes clams, crustaceans, and sea worms
September 11, 2022
The first order of day the was to pick up two people who had flown into Utqiaġvik, Alaska, as well as a piece of scientific equipment. The seas were choppy when the cutter boat left for the pick-up.
Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow), Alaska with cutter returning to Healy
Cutter boat returning to Healy with former hanger in distance, Utqiaġvik , Alaska
September 12, 2022
September 12 was the start of a series of days of intensive scientific work along a N.E. line, before we turn north toward the Pole. Multiple deployments of the CTD which measures conductivity (salinity), temperature, depth, chlorophyll, oxygen, etc. and the VPR (Video Plankton Recorder) were made which takes closeup videos of sea life as were the Van Veen (clamshell) and the multicorer, both of which sample mud from the bottom. The depth was approximately 50 meters. The Mnet (multinet) and ring nets were also deployed to collect plankton and other small sealife.
Preparing for deployment of the Video Plankton Recorder
Deploying the CTD (note information on digital board)