{"id":173647,"date":"2021-06-17T07:00:32","date_gmt":"2021-06-17T11:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/?p=173647"},"modified":"2021-06-16T18:05:33","modified_gmt":"2021-06-16T22:05:33","slug":"welcomed-home-by-calm-seas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/news\/welcomed-home-by-calm-seas\/","title":{"rendered":"Welcomed home by calm seas"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>This is the third and final piece in a series of posts by GSO Ph.D. candidate <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/meet\/diana-n-fontaine\/\"><em>Diana Fontaine <\/em><\/a><em>who just returned from the North Atlantic for the NASA EXPORTS project.&nbsp;You can find <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/tag\/nasa-exports\/\"><em>all of the posts here<\/em><\/a><em>. <\/em><\/p>\n<p>After our fifth storm of the trip on the <a href=\"https:\/\/noc.ac.uk\/facilities\/ships\/rrs-james-cook\">Royal Research Ship James Cook<\/a>, the weather spirits decided to give us a break. Rocking and rolling for multiple days, we were excited to be able to relax a little and have a break from the seemingly never-ending large waves and strong winds. Experiencing such drastic shifts in sea state first-hand gave me an appreciation for the strength of the ocean as I reflected on my time at sea.<\/p>\n<p>Since my last blog post, we finished up our incubation experiments and completed even more filtering. In the end, we collected almost 2,000 filters for chlorophyll extraction! Despite all of the weather we experienced, we were still able to accomplish quite a lot of science. We also continued our collaborations and shared some of our preliminary results with the broader science group. After our last science meeting of the trip, it was time to pack up. Fortunately, the nice weather allowed for relatively easy packing as we disassembled our lab spaces. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-173647 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/weather_tower\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/weather_tower.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"White superstructure of a research vessel, with a green deck in teh foreground. The ship is moving as evidenced by a small wake. THe wather is sunny with some clouds in the distance.\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-173650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/weather_tower.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/weather_tower-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/weather_tower-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/weather_tower-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/weather_tower-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/weather_tower-364x273.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/weather_tower-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/weather_tower-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/weather_tower-1280x960.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-173650'>\n\t\t\t\tA view of the RRS Jame Cook and calm seas from the weather tower which is a tower at the bow of the ship.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/packing\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/packing.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"A large number of crates and boxes on the back deck of a research vessel, the deck is green and three large cranes are behind the collection of boxes and crates.\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-173651\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/packing.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/packing-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/packing-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/packing-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/packing-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/packing-364x273.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/packing-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/packing-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/packing-1280x960.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-173651'>\n\t\t\t\tDue to the beautiful weather we had on the way back to port, we were able to store many of our boxes out on the back deck. \n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/lastsunset_firstland\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/lastsunset_firstland.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"SUnset at sea, with another research vessel far in the distance.\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-173649\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/lastsunset_firstland.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/lastsunset_firstland-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/lastsunset_firstland-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/lastsunset_firstland-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/lastsunset_firstland-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/lastsunset_firstland-364x273.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/lastsunset_firstland-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/lastsunset_firstland-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/lastsunset_firstland-1280x960.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-173649'>\n\t\t\t\tOne of the last sunsets we had while out at sea and the first sighting of land. The other ship pictured here is the RRS Discovery. Shortly after this, we started heading into port. \n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/cruise_track\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"995\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/cruise_track.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Map of ship tracks using yellow lines on a blue background.\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-173652\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/cruise_track.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/cruise_track-300x187.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/cruise_track-1024x637.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/cruise_track-768x478.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/cruise_track-1536x955.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/cruise_track-364x226.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/cruise_track-500x311.jpg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/cruise_track-1000x622.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/cruise_track-1280x796.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-173652'>\n\t\t\t\tThis is a snapshot of our cruise track and other asset locations while we were out at sea for a month. You can see that we certainly had a lot going on!\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>Once we got back to port, we couldn\u2019t leave the ship beyond the port gates at the risk of breaking the ship\u2019s COVID-free bubble. Fortunately, to keep us busy, we had to take apart the labs that have been our science home for the last month. In addition, we had to get a COVID test for entry back into the United States. A team of medics boarded the ship for test administration and unsurprisingly we were all negative. While some people left the ship to go celebrate, my team decided to stay onboard which meant ship celebrations instead of pub celebrations. Although we were a bit sad that we couldn\u2019t go celebrate in a pub, it was nice to hang out on the ship with some remaining scientists and the crew that we became close with over the past month.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond the COVID test upon returning to port, logistics were a lot easier on the back end of the trip. We only had one test instead of five and no strict quarantine. Things around the Bay Campus changed quite a bit while we were gone, too. We left with strict mask mandates in place and were welcomed back to a social gathering without masks. This was exciting to return to after a six-week journey, and it was great to see everyone\u2019s face again.<\/p>\n<p>The next steps for the research project will involve sample processing and analysis back in the lab. Samples will be analyzed for community composition data (sequencing) and primary production rates. We will also have meetings with other scientists involved in the project to compare data and continue collaborations. This project is well over a decade in the making and there will be many presentations and publications stemming from this successful North Atlantic NASA EXPORTS campaign. It will be exciting to see what comes of all of our hard work over the next few years!<\/p>\n<p>I hope you\u2019ve enjoyed reading about my journey in the North Atlantic. Going to sea is hands-down the best part of my job and I encourage everyone to try it at some point in their life if possible. Feel free to <a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/meet\/diana-n-fontaine\/\">reach out<\/a> with any questions about the project or life at sea.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Read the third and final post from GSO Ph.D. candidate Diana Fontaine about her experience working on the NASA EXPORTS project in the North Atlantic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2165,"featured_media":173650,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[79],"tags":[289,2300,2864],"class_list":["post-173647","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-biological-oceanography","tag-diana-fontaine","tag-nasa-exports"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/173647","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2165"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=173647"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/173647\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":173656,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/173647\/revisions\/173656"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/173650"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=173647"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=173647"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=173647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}