We just found out that our first “equipment-headed-off-the-boat” operation is happening tonight! This glider, which is now in the wet lab onboard the ship (near the ship’s only working washing machine), will be going into the ocean. We are not allowed to be on the same deck as the operations team, as all the equipment and processes can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing, but the rest of the scientists and students are going to go out and watch from the helipad on the upper deck. For a couple hours we will remain in the same location, while the team onboard from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and the glider operator (at the University of Washington in Seattle) confirm that test measurements are successful. If so, we’ll move on and leave the glider to do its thing. If not, they’ll bring the glider back onboard (but that won’t happen.)
What is the glider’s mission? From Seattle, the driver will give it a direction and instructions where and when to re-surface. Each time it resurfaces, it will transmit data via satellite, and the driver will give it its next course (and wait in anticipation for it to resurface again). It will use its CTD to measure Conductivity (related to salt content), Temperature, and Depth (related to pressure) of water samples, and then we’ll pick it up on our way back in a few weeks!