Ahoy there,
We’re checking in to announce that the SUNRISE 2022 cruise is officially underway!
The SUNRISE 2022 crew that will be split between the RV Pt Sur and RV Pelican.
After a few days of packing and loading things onto the ships down at the LUMCON facilities in Cocodrie, Louisiana, RV Point Sur and RV Pelican have left the dock. We’ll spend the next 2.5 weeks or so chasing fronts and eddies in the Gulf of Mexico using all sorts of fun instruments to capture the microstructure in very high resolution. Onboard we have everything from Wirewalkers, to VMPs (Vertical Microstructure Profilers), and highly equipped zodiacs that can be controlled remotely. Other essentials include sun shades and cold tubs, the Gulf gets very hot and humid in June…
Below are some photos from day one at sea which was spent dolphin watching, instrument testing and getting adjusted to the shift work times. Half of the science party will be in charge 3am-3pm and the other half 3pm-3am and we’ll keep some of the profiling instruments running 24/7. Most of the MOD crew can be found on the Pt Sur.
MOD members Devon and Jonny on the bow supervising the navigation through the Louisiana wetlands out to sea.
RV Pelican as seen from RV Pt Sur
Dolphins joining us on the way out to sea
Oregon State personnel doing small boat ops
Sunsets on SUNRISE on point (Sur).
Stay tuned for more updates from the SUNRISE crew!
Text and photos by Kerstin Bergentz