The ocean is a little rough, but the deep-sea sampling continues.
01.08.2008 "Rock on" – literally spoken. For most of us, the waves in the sea are a little too much today. Anyway, most of the researchers are able to do their work, they are taking new samples from the sediments of the seafloor, and geologists supervise it all from the control room. Someone skip their breakfast, and others skip their lunch, but most of us are able to enjoy a delicious layer cake the cook made to honor Christiane, who is celebrating her birthday to day. Happy birthday and thank you very much for the delicious cake!
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The weather report promise moderate gale the whole weekend, and we've already felt the wave's rock hard out here in the open sea. According to the crew, this is more or less normal in our parts and at this season.The first chore of the day is to put the ROV off board. It takes us on live-view sightseeing at 700 meters below the surface. Fantastic creatures pops up, colorful animals and plants which lives far down where neither oxygen nor daylight occur.
Why be so beautiful and colorful when no-one can see them? Or?... We can see sea-spiders, fishes, sponges, carbonates, soft corals, worms, serpents, anemones, starfishes and so one. Before the ROV returns to the ship, it collects samples from the seafloor. The researchers are always excited when it returns, therefore the photographer appears early to get a good view, but surprisingly no researchers turn up. It appears that there is a briefing in the control room, Haflidi wants to make an agreement with the others on how many CTD and other samples they are going to take today. The ROV will not be used before the weather has calmed. ROV-pilot, Frank Juven Widme was relieved when it was safe onboard on deck.
However, when the boxcore arrives on board, the researchers are in position with their equipment. With fire and knives they have adjusted their syringes to be able to absorb the sediments and put it in sterile cylinders for storage - either for analyzes here or when they return to Bergen. Excited and with wondering, they study the contents of the box. What can they possible see, what they haven’t seen before? This is what we call the spirit of a researcher: optimistic, expectant and unbelievably patient. The crew who handles the controlling, cleaning and maintenance of the equipment execute their job with full control and a discreet smile. So does the chef and his assistant. The meals served onboard are a culinary experience. It’s a mix of good old Norwegian diet and exotic meals from other countries.
