Brain Surgery

Mike Jankulak attends to the wiring of the "brain" (i.e., the data logger), satellite transmitter, radio transceiver, GPS antenna, and various meteorological instruments.

Photo by Bernadette Charpentier

Progress

The "brain" (data logger, serial connections, etc.) was installed today, along with temporary placements of the instruments to get readings. We had the ever present ocean swell, with winds reaching 20 knots by noon, but mostly workable.

Image shown is Mike Jankulak, aloft, hoisting the RM Young Windbird from Chris Langdon.

Chris Langdon, Nancy Ash, Mike Jankulak and Jim Hendee

View from Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory

Here's a view of pylon (way in the distance) from the Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory (click on picture to see it enlarged).

The electronics will be installed next during the week of June 4th.

Jim

Stick in the Water

Unit was succesfully deployed MAY 22-23 by NURP/UNCW divers Mark Hulsbeck, James Talacek, Jim Buckley, and Jay Styron, along with myself as supervisor. Some innovative procedural modifications had to be made in the field, and the UNCW divers expertise was well appreciated! There were also issues with getting the pylon through the shallow water near the ramp and over to the deeper channel. Me and James Talacek stayed on the pylon during the tow out to the site to help keep the proper tilt. The installation now is probably one of our strongest, and we've learned some new techniques. (Click on image to see larger picture.)

Jules Craynock

Pylon Installed!

Pylon now offshore. Adventure and excitement experienced by all. Rebellious pylon in persistent swell sufficiently tamed. We are on schedule. Rigging adjustments to follow. All hands OK. Visit us soon. We will keep a light on! (Light very visible at night).

Jules Craynock & NOAA/NURP Team:

James R. Talacek
Mark W. Hulsbeck
James F. Buckley
Henry J. Styron

Pylon Ready for the Trip

Here's the pylon at the boat dock before towing to the site.

Jim

Station at Dockside

This is the station, at dockside, ready to be installed at Discovery Bay, Jamaica. This completes Phase 1 (Mike Shoemaker and Manny Collazo prepping the station) of the deployment. The installation of the bare station (but with solar panels and navigation light) by Jules Craynock and four NURP divers at the bottom plate will constitute Phase 2, this coming week, and during the week of June 4th (Phase 3) we (MIke Jankulak, Chris Langdon, Nancy Ash and me) will install the electronics and flick the switch to turn the station on. Later this summer Lew Gramer and Derek Manzello will visit Discovery Bay to give instructions on utilizing data and making ecological forecasts.

Jim