Texas A&M University
Department of Oceanography

Year of the Oceans
Texas A&M University oceanographers spent more than 300 days on the sea

by AmyWarren

More than 100 scientists crossed thousands of miles aboard more than 10 vessels during more than 20 cruises.

You might say 1998 was "business as usual."

Since January 1, 1998 -- the beginning of the International Year of the Ocean -- Texas A&M University oceanographers have cruised thousands of miles across the world's oceans during more than 20 research cruises and (if you total the days each person spent on the sea) more than 300 "ship days."

Texas A&M oceanographers boarded more than 10 research vessels and investigated the physics, biology, chemistry and geology of the oceans from the Gulf of Mexico to the Ross Sea near Antarctica.

We've enjoyed celebrating the Year of the Ocean by conducting practical research, and, of course, we'll continue our commitment to ocean research and academics even after the end of the Year of the Ocean.

So 1999 will, again, be business as usual. If you're a student and you'd like to join the oceanography graduate program at Texas A&M University, call (409) 845-7412 for more information, or visit http://oceanography.tamu.edu.

Anchors aweigh!

Texas A&M's research on the ocean during 1998 included:

(Anchor = site of research by Texas A&M's Department of Oceanography within the last few years)

Graduate student Patrick Ressler oversaw MOCNESS sampling on a cruise October 19-28 in the Gulf of Maine as part of the U.S. GLOBEC Northwest Atlantic/Georges Bank study aboard the R/V Oceanus.

For five days in June, graduate student Daniel Lanier conducted vibracore/seismic research in New York Bight during a USGS cruise with participants from USGS, Woods Hole Institution of Oceanography, and Coastal Carolina University.

The seas near the Hawaiian Islands were the site of a multidisciplinary cruise May 21 to June 11. Chief scientist Dr. Niall Slowey, plus two TAMU scientists, four TAMU grad students (and five participants from other institutions) were aboard the R/V Moana Wave.

In Monterey Bay, California, Dr. Mead Allison and a TAMU graduate student conducted a coring study of optical properties of sediments during an October cruise aboard the R/V John Martin, sponsored by the Office of Naval Research.

A biological and chemical survey of the Ross Sea was planned for November 2 through December 20 aboard the Nathaniel B. Palmer. The cruise is sponsored by ROAVERRS (Research on Ocean/Atmosphere Variability and Ecosystem Response in the Ross Sea).

In August 1998, Dr. Bob Presley and Bryan Brattin conducted five one-day cruises in the Sea of Japan. Aboard the Russian ship Nostalgie, they collected sediment and organism samples for pollution monitoring.

Dr. Mead Allison and two TAMU graduate students (plus eight scientists from the Bangladesh Geological Survey and the Department of Forestry) conducted a vibracoring study of Holocene delta evolution in the Sunderbans coastal mangrove complex, Ganges-Brahmaputra delta in Bangladesh. They were aboard the R/V Monkat, and the cruise was in March.

From March 4 to April 29, Dr. Lisa Campbell and a TAMU technician (along with chief scientists and staff from other institutions) were aboard the R/V Revelle in the South Pacific. In the seas near New Zealand, New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga, the scientists researched nitrogen and carbon cycling in the upper water column. This project focused on the smaller phytoplankton, the picoplankton, and their role in utilization of nitrogen.

Dr. Wilf Gardner, Chief Scientist, plus four TAMU technicians (and 31 participants from other institutions), spent February 13 to March 19 in the seas near New Zealand and almost to Antarctica. Their research focused on biogeochemical cycles. This JGOFS-sponsored cruise was on the R/V Revelle.

Exploring our 'back yard,' the Gulf of Mexico

Texas A&M faculty, staff and students spent so many days researching on the Gulf of Mexico during the Year of the Ocean that 1998 could have been dubbed "The Year of the Gulf."Projects during 1998 included:

The "Northeast Gulf of Mexico Chemical Oceanography and Hydrography" project

Scientists observed temporal and spatial distributions of water properties during spring, summer and fall. Other studies on board investigated the distribution and abundance of marine mammals and sea birds. Cruise dates were May 4-5, July 25 to August 9, and November 13-25. During each of the three 1998 cruises aboard the R/V Gyre, Dr. Doug Biggs and/or Dr. Norman Guinasso led a scientific team of 17 to 19 TAMU students, scientists and staff (plus several from other institutions).

Submarine dives on oil seeps

This May 10-24 cruise was led by chief scientist Dr. Ian R. Macdonald and Dr. Will Sager. Two graduate students and a technician were aboard the SSV Carolyn Chouest and the DSRV NR-1, a U.S. Navy nuclear sub. More information about this cruise can be found on the web at http://gulftour.tamu.edu.

Piston coring cruise

Headed by Paul Stine of Texas A&M's Geochemical and Environmental Research Group (GERG), the science staff was aboard the J.W. Powell from from June 11-July 6.

Study of organic carbon transport in the ocean margin benthic boundary

A March 16-19 cruise to the gulf's Mississippi River plume region included principal investigator Dr. Peter Santschi and chief scientist Laodong Guo. Other participants from Texas A&M University were two graduate students, four undergraduate students, three staff members (and one scientist from another institution). Aboard the R/V Pelican, the group also investigated Th scavenging by colloidal organic matter.

Class field trip

Students taking the summer course "Survey of Oceanography" with Dr. Robert Stewart took two one-day cruises in Galveston Bay aboard the R/V Milam. The students in the class were science teachers from across Texas.

Hydrographic survey of anoxic/hypoxic conditions around the Mississippi Delta

During this April 30 to May 4 cruise led by Dr. Norman Guinasso, oceanography students and staff investigated the gulf near the Mississippi Delta and deployed a mooring for a student's research project.

Study of sediment dynamics in the gulf's Mississippi Canyon

Chief scientist Dr. Wilf Gardner, seven TAMU technicians, seven TAMU students (plus three participants from other institutions) conducted research on sediment dynamics aboard the R/V Gyre from April 16-21.

Stability and change in Gulf of Mexico chemosynthetic communities

Aboard the R/V Edwin Link, Dr. John Morse and Dr. Ian MacDonald led this study from June 30 to July 21. Four TAMU graduate students participated.

http://oceanography.tamu.edu/Quarterdeck/1998/3/ogc.html
Copyright 1998-1999, Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University.
Updated November 24, 1998. (abdw)

Send Quarterdeck inquiries to quarterdeck@ocean.tamu.edu.

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