How’s That Data Rolling In?

Jessica Robertson, U.S. Geological Survey Public Affairs Specialist

The other day I received an update on seismic data collection (used for mapping the sub-seafloor) from USGS geophysicist Jonathan Childs, chief scientist for Healy. I asked him about the quality of our incoming data, whether the systems have been working smoothly, and what the plans are after we depart Healy and Louis.

Before embarking, there were several objectives and expectations for this trip. We have exceeded expectations in terms of our ability to move through the sea ice and the reliability of our equipment. Both the U.S. and Canada have been extremely successful in collecting seismic data. We have had no down time on Healy and have been collecting data every moment our ship was moving. The Canadians were able to keep their instruments in the water for up to 72 hours at a time, which is a significant accomplishment given the surrounding ice-covered conditions.

Geographically, we have reached several points scheduled for data collection, but some areas were too heavily covered with sea ice, and we were not able to break through. For example, we hoped to get closer to Canadian islands, but unfortunately the sea ice was too thick. However, pre-cruise plans are always optimistic, so these minor obstacles were not disappointing. You can’t really predict the conditions you will face and how things will fare.

After a preliminary review of incoming seismic data, scientists onboard have observed several fascinating features beneath the seafloor. Once this expedition is complete, data will be formally analyzed and interpreted. Analysis will include further interpretation of sediments, sedimentary thicknesses, and how plates moved to form the basins and underwater seafloor elevations. Scientists will also assess where additional data are needed to help clarify these geologic interpretations.

In addition to the seismic data, the other research onboard has been very successful. In regards to water sampling to study microorganisms in the Arctic Ocean, positive results have already been achieved. The proportions of the organisms being studied (mixotrophs) are similar to those recently observed in the Antarctic. At this point, samples have been collected from several depths at nine different locations and we expect to gather at least one more sample in the last couple days of our journey.

Four open ocean drifting buoys, which move with the current, were deployed before our science crew’s time on Healy began. There are six more available for deployment as we move out of the ice pack and go southbound to Barrow, Alaska. These buoys, or drifters, provide location, air pressure and temperature, and water temperature. The buoy data are transmitted through the Argos satellite network and help us track and understand ocean circulation, atmospheric conditions, and the future production and distribution of sea ice. Drifting buoys like these will be increasingly used in the Arctic as open ocean areas expand. The buoys are being deployed as part of the International Arctic Buoy Programme by Pablo Clemente-Colón, Chief Scientist of the National Ice Center and an oceanographer with NOAA.

We are still collecting data, so all further progress will build on what has already proved to be a very successful cruise.

Until next time,

Jessica Robertson

Arctic Luau: A View from the Sky

Jessica Robertson, U.S. Geological Survey Public Affairs Specialist

Yesterday, Louis and Healy pulled up alongside each other, placed a brow (or gangway) between the ships as a walkway, and we had a luau-themed dinner together. All week long, everyone has been talking about the planned rendezvous, hoping weather conditions would permit. Thankfully they did, and we spent the afternoon mixing, mingling and, exploring the adjacent ships.

Before setting down the brow, it needed to be transported from the front of the ship to the back. None of the cranes onboard were able to swing it from one end to another, so it had to be transported across the ice. Once a piece of multiyear ice was spotted, Healy stopped alongside it. Two U.S. Coast Guard members were carried by a crane onto the ice, where they checked for stability before placing the brow on it. Once they confirmed the ice was a secure spot, the brow was lowered and set down. Healy moved forward slightly to align the brow with the back of the ship and the walkway was slowly raised up and placed onto the flight deck.

I was lucky enough to take a helicopter ride while Louis pulled up alongside Healy. The pilot was wonderful, asking us which direction we wanted him to fly to ensure we captured this cooperative effort. I gathered some amazing video footage, and I hope you all enjoy the pictures with this blog entry!

Our helicopter trip ended on Louis, where we watched both crews work collaboratively to bring the ships together and secure the brow as a walkway from one ship to another. The Canadian Coast Guard passed by us with trays and trays of food as we waited by the hangar to cross back over. Once everything was set, I walked over to Healy, put my video equipment away and returned to Louis. Besides my brief landing a few minutes earlier, this was my first time on the Canadian ship, and I was anxious to see their accommodations and meet the rest of their crew.

Food was carried over from Healy and the smell inside the hangar made my stomach growl. The spread included lobster, shrimp, scallops, steaks, tables of desserts, and even a dolphin-shaped ice sculpture. The festive luau theme inspired several people, some with Hawaiian shirts and flip flops, and others with grass skirts creatively made with rope. Several awards and words of appreciation were presented between and among the U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard.

After dinner, USGS scientist Deborah Hutchinson gave me and several others a tour of Louis. Along the way, I finally met Canadian Geological Survey scientist Ruth Jackson, who is the chief scientist for Louis. As we were introduced, she welcomed me with a huge smile and was such a delight. Both she and Debbie excitedly showed us the incoming data and discussed what it may indicate as a representation of the seafloor and underlying geology.

As we walked through the Louis hallways during our tour, we passed several U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard members discussing the similarities and differences between ship operations—both eagerly listening and learning.

When an announcement was made for everyone to return to their ship, I could not believe it was already 10:00 p.m. In fact, I can’t believe we are in our final week of this journey. I have been having a wonderful time, and with each day, a new adventure.

From the Arctic,

Jessica Robertson

Frequently Asked Questions

Jessica Robertson, U.S. Geological Survey Public Affairs Specialist

There have been some frequently asked questions that I would like to address in today’s journal entry. These responses are from USGS scientist Jonathan Childs, chief scientist for Healy.

Disposal of waste and expendable equipment from Healy

Healy has a comprehensive recycling program onboard to avoid disposing into the ocean anything that might be environmentally harmful. Cans, bottles, batteries, cardboard, waste paper, printer paper, and especially all forms of plastic are collected and stored in deck containers for recycling or disposal on shore. Extensive precautionary measures are in place aboard Healy (and all U.S. Coast Guard vessels for that matter) to ensure that no petroleum products (oil, gas, diesel, etc.) whatsoever are ever discharged or spill into the ocean. Only biodegradable organic matter is disposed of while we are at sea.

We do use a small number of expendable scientific instruments that are designed to either sink immediately to the bottom of the ocean, or to sink after a set amount of time (usually a few hours). Unlike a great amount of material that is lost each year from commercial vessels (fishing boats or container ships for example), which may float in the ocean for years or wash ashore and contaminate beaches, these instruments are insignificant in quantity and size, and after sinking to the ocean floor are environmentally benign.

Effects of sound systems on marine wildlife

Extensive precautions are in place to prevent not only any physical harm to marine mammals, but to minimize even the possible affects our sound sources might have on the behavior of marine mammals. There is a team of three lookouts on the Louis whose sole duty is to watch for marine mammals. There are also two lookouts (or “observers”) on the Healy. Most of these observers are from the Canadian and Alaskan native communities, and they are experts at spotting and identifying marine life on the ice.

The ships have carefully designed procedures for starting up the acoustic sound sources. For example, the airguns are not started if a marine mammal has been observed anywhere in the vicinity of the ship for 30 minutes. The airgun array is not started all at once, but gradually “ramped up” to avoid the possibility that an animal we can’t see underwater will suddenly be affected by the sound at full strength. And, if any marine mammals are observed within 1 nautical mile (about 6,080 feet) of the ships, the system is turned off until the animal has left the area, or the ship has traveled out of the animal’s range. Similarly, the ships make every attempt to minimize disturbance to polar bears. We avoid approaching closer than 1 mile to any bears that we see. In numerous scientific studies, the various sound sources we use have never been shown to have any detrimental effect on fish.

I hope this clarifies some of your questions. Check back soon for updates on data collection and the final leg of our journey!

Until next time,

Jessica Robertson

Law of the Sea: Diplomacy in the Arctic

Jessica Robertson, U.S. Geological Survey Public Affairs Specialist

Happy Equinox! The nights are growing longer at the North Pole; this marks the transition from 24 hours of daylight to 24 hours of night.

This past weekend I decided to learn more about the policy and legal aspects associated with this journey, so I spent some time talking with Brian Van Pay, a maritime geographer with the Department of State who is onboard Healy and is an expert on law of the sea issues.

Our expedition to map the Arctic seafloor will provide some of the data necessary to define the extent of what is called the extended continental shelf (ECS) in the Arctic Ocean. The ECS is simply that portion of the continental shelf that lies beyond 200 nautical miles from the shore and over which a country has sovereign rights.

So why do this? The U.S., like other countries, wants to identify and declare to others the exact extent of our sovereign rights in the ocean. Those rights include exploration, exploitation, conservation, and management of non-living resources of the seabed and subsoil, such as mineral and petroleum resources. These rights also extend to living, “sedentary” resources, such as clams, crabs, sponges, and coral. The fish that swim above the continental shelf are not included.

There are rules that say how a country should define its extended continental shelf. The Convention on the Law of the Sea, an international treaty, says every country gets a continental shelf that goes out to 200 nautical miles. But, in some cases, a country can define a continental shelf that goes beyond 200 nautical miles if it meets certain criteria. The data the U.S. and Canada are collecting during this expedition will help determine whether the continental shelf in this portion of the Arctic Ocean meets those criteria.

The work to collect and analyze the data necessary to define the U.S. continental shelf is coordinated by the U.S. Extended Continental Shelf Task Force, an interagency body headed by the U.S. Department of State. The U.S. Geological Survey is one of the agencies that participate in this Task Force. There have been four other missions to the Arctic to collect data to determine the extent of the U.S. ECS. In fact, a Healy research cruise previous to the expedition I am on now was dedicated to mapping the ECS in the Arctic Ocean as well. If you are interested in learning more about these previous cruises, see the Joint Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping website for more information. These cruises are expensive, and the ECS Task Force is careful not to spend money when existing data will meet its needs. Therefore we are using seismic data collected by U.S. Geological Survey expeditions to the Arctic on the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Polar Star in 1992 and 1993.

I have received several questions that relate to sovereign rights, boundaries, etc., so if you want to learn more, take a look at Brian’s blog on the State Department’s DipNote page.

On a side note, the other night we had a pie auction, and this wasn’t the typical pie auction I am used to. A large tarp was placed down in the hangar with one chair over it. When I walked in people were standing around yelling prices and pulling out their wallets. Finally someone yelled, “Sold!” and the winner grabbed their pie. As they held it, they looked around the room smiling and picked the person who would become their target. The lucky person sat in the chair on the tarp and got a pie in the face! Check out my pictures to see who got a pie from me!

From the Arctic,

Jessica Robertson

Surrounding Wildlife and…Whoa, How Fast is that Sound and Cream Pie?

Jessica Robertson, U.S. Geological Survey Public Affairs Specialist

The weather has been better these last couple days, so we have had several people traveling back and forth between Louis and Healy. Visitors are given briefings and tours to learn about ship operations and experience life onboard. We have also started a series of evening presentations by scientists and crew members so we can understand each other’s responsibilities and work on Healy. Yesterday, the Canadian Coast Guard won second place in our pie eating contest, too!

After our polar bear sighting the other day, I have become increasingly curious of what other wildlife we might come across. We have two people onboard Healy who record the presence and proximity of species we encounter. So far we have only seen two polar bears (parent and cub), a few seals, and a glaucous gull, but we could see whales, walruses, and several other bird species as we near Barrow, Alaska. Both observers inform U.S. Coast Guard personnel when an animal is nearby so we can alter our path and ensure we do not disturb them in their native habitat. Our marine mammal observer is Justin Pudenz, who is contracted by NOAA, and our community observer is George Neakok, who works for the Barrow Arctic Science Consortium and reports information to the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission and the North Slope Borough government. George also educates the crew about the local communities’ lifestyle and use of the Arctic. In addition, he is helping to ensure that when close to land, we do not bother nearby hunters.

Next, I want to explain an essential factor that must be measured to accurately determine ocean depth and map the seafloor. That factor is the speed of sound through seawater. I hope this isn’t too much detail, but without this calculation, our representations of the seafloor would be inaccurate.

In previous journal entries, I explained how scientists are using echo sounders to map the Arctic seafloor. Sound signals are sent into the ocean and the total time it takes for that energy wave to hit the seafloor and bounce back is recorded. That timing, however, does not directly tell you ocean depth. The speed of sound through the water needs to be considered in the equation. There are several ways to determine this speed, which is calculated using temperature, pressure (which increases with depth), and salinity data.

The speed of sound varies continuously with depth beneath the ship. Once you know the salinity, temperature, and pressure at multiple locations under the ship, you can calculate how the speed of sound varies at those different depths. In this case, the speed is measured in meters per second. When you combine that information with the total time it takes for sound to bounce off the seafloor and return to the surface, you can calculate how deep the ocean is.

One way to calculate this speed is using a hand-held launcher that sends a probe into the water to measure depth and temperature variation below the ship. The instrument is called an Expendable Bathythermograph (XBT) and is used on Healy. “Bathy” means depth and “thermo” means temperature. A salinity value based on preexisting research is used in the computation since the XBT does not measure salinity. Healy also has a Conductivity Temperature Depth Profiler (CTD), which I briefly discussed in a previous blog post. Conductivity is used to determine salinity, so this instrument provides a more accurate sound velocity profile than the XBT calculates.

Louis also obtains sound speed data using a Sound Velocity Probe (SVP), which measures speed directly. It is not expendable like the XBT and takes up to 2 hours round trip to lower to the ocean floor at 3,800 meters. It can only be used when the ship is stopped and not surrounded by thick ice. Louis is also using an Expendable Conductivity Temperature Depth Profiler (XCTD), which uses similar sensors to Healy’s CTD but it is expendable. Louis and Healy take turns collecting these data and share findings with each other so efforts aren’t duplicated.

Don’t forget to check out my new audio files, including the sounds of ice breaking and a conversation between Healy’s and Louis’s captains, in the posts below!

Until next time,

Jessica Robertson

Audio: Breaking Ice in the Arctic

Jessica Robertson, U.S. Geological Survey Public Affairs Specialist

http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/arctic/files/2008/09/ice-breaking-50-seconds.mp3

Do you want to know what it sounds like to break ice in the Arctic Ocean? This audio file is of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy doing exactly that. This recording was taken outside on the ship’s bow, so you can hear the ice breaking on the ship and the wind in the background. We can hear similar sounds in the messdeck, gym, and other places throughout the ship including my room, where it often wakes me from my sleep.

Audio: Seafloor Mapping Sounds

Jessica Robertson, U.S. Geological Survey Public Affairs Specialist

Listen to the sound signals our seafloor mapping instruments are using!

http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/arctic/files/2008/09/chirp.mp3

The multibeam sends out a soft ping (12 kilohertz) and the sub-bottom profiler emits a chirp sound (3.5 kilohertz). These sound signals are sent from the ship into the seafloor and the return signals that bounce back are used to determine ocean depth. Some of you, but not all of you, will be able to hear the ping immediately (about half a second) before the chirp. I can hear these sounds faintly throughout the ship, whether in my room, the science lounge or the mess hall. This sound was recorded in my room.

Ice 101 and the Living Arctic

Jessica Robertson, U.S. Geological Survey Public Affairs Specialist

In addition to the work to define the continental shelf during this expedition, there are several projects underway, such as sea ice observations and analysis of organisms in the ocean.

I spent the other day chatting about sea ice observations with Pablo Clemente-Colón, Chief Scientist of the National Ice Center and an oceanographer with NOAA. Pablo told me that we have already lost a record amount of multi-year (older) ice in the Arctic compared to last year. In fact, well over 60 percent of the old ice pack has disappeared since the 1980s. We have never observed such an advanced state of ice deterioration of the old ice pack in this location. It appears, though, that an overall seasonal freezing trend is now setting up for this part of the Arctic. Through this journey, we have observed a combination of new, first-year and multi-year ice all in one pack. In some cases, we have even witnessed new ice form overtop of heavily melted multi-year ice flows, creating ice-type concentration conditions difficult to assess and typically not observed or reported.

During this expedition, Pablo routinely monitors the ice coverage visually and records what types of ice are dominantly present. These data are used to validate satellite remote sensing observations of ice coverage in the area. Sea ice data from remote sensing analysis are used by various customers, including the National Weather Service, the Navy (particularly for submarine Arctic crossings), and the U.S. Coast Guard for safety of navigation, life, and property at sea. Data can also be used for fisheries support and research, oceanographic and atmospheric models, and much more.

Sea ice can be roughly categorized into three general groups, which I briefly mentioned above. There is new ice and nilas, which is the thinnest sea ice; young and first-year ice, which can grow from four inches to four feet in one season; and old or multi-year ice, which has survived at least one melting season. As ice ages, its thickness and color tone change. Water usually appears as a dark color surface and new to first year would typically go from dark to grey to a grey-white color. The youngest of the old ice, second-year ice, is seen as a greenish-blue color, and older multi-year ice has a deeper blue tone. Color alterations are due to the presence or absence of salt and air bubbles in the ice. Newer ice has more salt, while older ice has more air bubbles. In the absence of salt, more sunlight is available to scatter around and reflect off the air bubbles, providing the brighter blue tone appearance of the multi-year ice.

Other scientists onboard Healy are studying microorganisms in the Arctic Ocean to better understand processes such as the food chain, carbon cycle, and nutrient cycle. Over the last several decades, it has been recognized that microorganisms are more active and abundant in this area than previously thought, therefore playing a key role in the above processes. Research is being conducted by Rebecca Gast with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Robert Sanders with Temple University. Becky and Bob are studying protists with a specific focus on the presence of mixotrophs, which are a type of algae that have not been studied much in this region. Mixotrophic algae eat bacteria as well as use sunlight for photosynthesis, potentially helping them thrive in the extreme polar environment.

To study these microorganisms, water samples are collected at various depths in the ocean. Samples are taken using a Conductivity Temperature Depth Profiler (CTD), which, as you can assume from the name, also measures conductivity and temperature as a function of water depth. I will discuss how we use that information for seafloor mapping in a later journal entry, but for now I will just focus on the water samples. Healy’s CTD has 24 bottles to collect water, each with an opening at the top and bottom (not all CTDs have this design). When it is placed in the ocean and reaches a desired depth, an electronic signal is sent from the ship that closes the bottles. They can be closed at various times and at different depths. After collection, the water is incubated with particles that the mixotrophs can eat, and the organisms are detected by microscopic analysis.

I also want to quickly point out my recent discovery of artwork on the ship’s aloft conn web camera. Many Healy crew members have been onboard intermittently for several years, so as you can imagine, they are always looking for means of entertainment. If you haven’t checked out the camera in awhile, take a glance through our slideshow of past images. You may find it amusing!

Until next time,

Jessica Robertson

Breaking Ice—Like A Hot Knife Through Butter

Jessica Robertson, U.S. Geological Survey Public Affairs Specialist

Over the past couple days, there have been several cancellations and delays in helicopter flights between ships due to surrounding fog and potential for ice to build up on the helicopter blades. Also, both Louis and Healy have had a couple moments caught in the ice, but both ships have been working together to keep things moving and data rolling in. While I am enjoying the company onboard, I don’t think anyone wants to be stuck in the Arctic Ocean!

For both ships to collect accurate data, we have been alternating positions with Louis in leading and breaking through the ice. Seismic data needs to be collected at a slow speed, but for the ship to break ice, it needs to move at a faster pace. Therefore it is beneficial for one ship to lead at a slightly faster pace when going through ice while the other ship follows at a slower speed to collect accurate data. In addition, both ships use sound systems and energy waves for data collection and the sound of ice breaking can interfere and alter the data. When Louis leads the path, that interference is reduced for Healy and vice versa. As I mentioned in a previous blog, Louis is using streamers and buoys that trail behind their ship to collect data, so using Healy’s guided path helps prevent them from getting caught in the ice.

Request for Activation of Deck Lights Audio description: As Louis and Healy pass each other one foggy afternoon, they discuss the weather conditions and request the activation of deck lights so they can have a clear visual of each other. This conversation is between Captain Frederick Sommer, who is the commanding officer of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy, and Captain Mark Rothwell, who is the commanding officer of Canadian Coast Guard Ship Louis S. Saint Laurent.

When I first heard of an ice breaking ship, I thought they plowed through the ice by ramming straightforward into it. My assumption was wrong.

The ship’s weight and generated momentum are essential characteristics that make it an effective icebreaker. Healy generates a maximum of 30,000 horsepower with two shafts and Louis produces 27,000 horsepower with three shafts. The bows on both Healy and Louis are designed with an arch, much like a spoon, so they can ride up on top of the ice, pushing it down and out the sides of the ship. Both ships also have what is called an ice knife. This isn’t the type of knife you might immediately imagine. It is basically a projection of solid steel (or wedge) located below the bow that helps prevent the ship from riding too far up onto heavy ice and effectively beaching itself or having ice travel under the hull to the propellers.

Low friction inertia paint, which provides a slick surface, is used to coat the entire underwater portion of ice breaking ships up to a few feet above the waterline. This allows for a smoother transition through the ice, helps keep buildup such as seaweed off the ship, and allows the ship to use less energy and fuel. In addition, ice breaking ships are constructed with thicker hull plating and heavier “web” frames in the bow area. The distance between the frames is reduced in the bow and stern areas for added strength. There is also an ice horn, which is basically a block of steel under the stern and behind the rudders and is there to protect the rudder when the ship is backing up in ice.

Some differences do exist between Louis and Healy. For example, Healy has a bow wash system that draws water from under the ship and distributes it onto the ice through nozzles along the ship’s hull. As a result, the ice is flooded and it is easy for the ship to move forward. This is especially helpful when snow, which offers greater friction on the hull, is present. The water helps reduce the friction that would otherwise slow down the ship and its momentum.

Louis also has a unique feature known as a bubbler system. High pressure air is discharged through underwater nozzles, thus providing a lubricating film of water and air between the ice and the ship’s hull. Louis also has a water ballast heeling system. Water in the vessel’s port (left) and/or starboard (right) ballast tanks can be quickly transferred from tank to tank to make the ship rock and break free if it becomes stuck in the ice. It is used only occasionally, and, so far, not at all this trip.

More from the beautiful Arctic Ocean soon!

Jessica Robertson

Making Bubbles in the Ocean with an Airgun

Jessica Robertson, U.S. Geological Survey Public Affairs Specialist

We saw a polar bear and cub today! First we saw the tracks, and finally we spotted them. They were about two miles away, so I couldn’t get a close-up picture. Those on the bridge were peering through their binoculars trying to tell the crowd gathered together on the bow where to look. It took a while to find them, and when we did, it was truly spectacular!

Now, on to science. I learned today that Louis is using airguns, which create an acoustic sound signal under water, to image the geologic structure of the sub-seafloor. Even more interesting, scientists used to use dynamite to generate this sound source before airguns were developed! The airgun pulse is heard by everyone onboard Louis and shakes the fantail when set off. These airguns are also called air hammers or pneumatic sound sources.

So how do the airguns work? The gun has two chambers—a release chamber with vents at the top and a pressure chamber underneath. The pressure chamber contains compressed air at a pressure of 1,800 pounds per square inch. A piston is located between the two chambers and when triggered, it shoots into the release chamber, letting air out of the pressure chamber and into the ocean through the vents. The piston slams down and closes before water can come in. This whole process takes about 10 milliseconds. There are three airguns towed behind the ship at one time and they are fired about every 20 seconds.

The resulting air bubble emits energy waves into the seafloor. A signal bounces back, much like an echo sounder, helping image the underlying geologic structure. So, how are the resulting signals recorded? Louis has a streamer about 100 meters long trailing behind in the ocean. Within the streamer are 16 hydrophone channels, which listen for the waves’ return signals. Scientists also deploy sonobuoys behind the ship, each with an attached hydrophone. The hydrophone transmits the signal from the airguns back to the ship by radio. The sonobuoys drift freely behind the ship for several hours before they self-scuttle and sink to the bottom.

In a previous blog, I discussed how Healy is also imaging the geologic structure of the Arctic sub-seafloor. What’s the difference between the instruments on the two ships? The sub-bottom seismic reflection profiler, which is used on Healy, emits lower energy waves and can reach at most 100 meters into the sediment. The airguns, however, can penetrate 100 times further, reaching through sediment up to 10 kilometers thick.

At one point yesterday, Louis was stuck in the ice, and one would think they could just back up and ram forward to break through, right? In this situation, however, that would not be the most productive solution. Since the streamer is behind the ship, backward movement would tangle it with the propellers and disrupt data collection. In the end, Healy altered their track, made a circle around Louis, and set it free. This shows one of the many benefits of this joint expedition, as they will help us if put in a similar situation.

From the cold,

Jessica Robertson

Next Page »

• About the Blog

  The 2009 U.S.-Canada Arctic Continental Shelf Survey is underway from August 7 - September 16. Blog posts from sea are authored by the various agencies collaborating during the expedition. More information on the U.S. Extended Continental Shelf Project can be found at continentalshelf.gov.

• Main Menu

  Home

• Follow the Journey

  RSS Feed Comments
  
  Follow the journey around the Arctic on map
  
  

• Live Photos from the Healy

  • 2009 Journey
    (Aug 7, 2009 to Now)
  • 2008 Journey
    (Sept 5 - Oct 6, 2008)

• Participating Organizations

  

• Recent Chronicles

  • New Discovery: An Underwater Mountain
  • Unmanned Vehicles Gliding Undersea
  • What Happens to the Data? Archiving and Distribution
  • Fledermaus – It’s Like a Video Game for Science
  • The Otherworldly Sights and Sounds of the Arctic

• Categories

  • 2009
  • General
  • Journey
  • Sounds

• Archived Chronicles

  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008

• Links

  • Comment Policy
  • Expedition to Map the Arctic Seafloor
  • Extended Continental Shelf Project
  • Extended Continental Shelf Project
  • U.S.-Canada Joint Expedition to Survey the Extended Continental Shelf in the Arctic
  • USGS.gov