Further processing is accomplished by the scientists trying to make sense of the depositional patterns and stratigraphy.
When scientists and the crew members aren't busy working in the labs, they are usually busy doing one of two things - eating or sleeping! The main galley shown here is where meals and snacks are served.
Living arrangements aboard a research ship are "tight". Most scientists share a room and bathroom with at least one or two others. Each is assigned a bunk to sleep and a small locker to keep all your personal gear.
Passage ways are also very "tight" often not wide enough for two people to pass at the same time.
Ship's policy requires strict adherence to the drug and alcohol-free workplace.
Each week we also have a "Fire and Boat" drill where we learn about safety and survival equipment used in case of emergency. Tom Rea is learning to master the technique of getting into cold-weather survival gear!
Emergency flares and rockets were launched during one of our weekly Fire and Boat drills.
Nothing compares to the natural beauty of a sunset at sea. During our cruise, we had the pleasure of several nights like this.
We also witnessed the force of a hurricane (typhoon Percy)!
Typhoon Percy brought along 90 kt wind gusts, 50 kts sustained winds, and nearly 40ft waves!
A little science humor to sustain us while riding out Percy.
Pitching into the waves brings a huge spray of water over the front of the ship (the bow).
Rolling with the waves can be difficult too. We sometimes rolled 30° away from vertical.
At one point, waves swept away and launched one of the emergency lifeboats. Here it can be seen floating upside-down behind the ship.
We turned the ship around to recover the lost life-raft.
Ship's crew members work to retrieve the lifeboat and bring it back onboard.
Scientists also like to amuse themselves by playing "science games". If you send styrofoam cups down to deep ocean depths, the air is compressed out of the styrofoam causing them to shrink significantly.
A mesh laundry bag was filled with cups decorated by everyone onboard.
Then the bag was attached to the coring wire and sent down to more than two miles deep.
The returning cups are only a small shadow of their former size.
Although we spent a great deal of time during this cruise in biologically unproductive waters, we had constant companionship from several large albatross.
Occasionally, we were visited by a pod of pilot whales too.
About half of the scientific party was affiliated with the University of Michigan (currently or as alumni).
No matter what your affiliation, close friendships often develop from working hard together at sea.
That's me in the green shirt. Hope you enjoyed the "tour" of life at sea during SPLAT-2005.