Friday, September 14, 2007

Field Trip Completed

A team from AOML was at DBJM1 during the week of September 10th - 14th. The team consisted of Jules Craynock, Derek Manzello, Lew Gramer and Mike Jankulak.

Aerial work completed: the Vaisala Weather station mounting was adjusted by approximately nine degrees. The five solar panel cables were significantly shortened. The failing windbird / electronic compass combination was removed from the station and its aluminum mast put into storage. The station "brain" was removed and replaced; the logger firmware was upgraded on land and the internal barometer replaced. The barometer air tube was found to be filled with water at the outside end; this tube was removed. No damage of any kind (from Hurricane Dean) was observed above the surface. Four aluminum rungs were bent during station work but there are enough spare rungs to cover this loss.

Underwater work included adding 2-part epoxy to stabilize pin #8. Various maintenance tasks and biological survey activities were also performed (details to follow). The Groundtruth CT was connected during brain replacement to ensure that all connections were correct.

Future work: another trip will need to be scheduled to install the station "stabilization collar" and the replacement windbird and electronic compass.

-- Mike J+