Reykjavik and final preparation!

Hello all!

Lucy, Hilary, and I have finally arrived in Reykjavik, Iceland and are preparing to set out on the R/V Neil Armstrong early this week. This research cruise has been a source of excitement and anticipation for me these past few weeks; I love the ocean and sailing along the coast, but this is my first experience in open water for such a long time. I’m also a Geosciences major at Wellesley College, and all my field experiences so far have been on dry ground.

A brief overview of our journey so far…

Lucy and I have been traversing the streets of Reykjavik in our free time, usually in search of food. Though we both traveled in Iceland last year, neither of us knew the Icelandic food scene very well before returning this week. From tacos to cupcakes, we have been slowly working our way through Reykjavik’s diverse offering of restaurants serving global dishes with an Icelandic twist.

Chicken tacos from RIO Reykjavik, located along the wharf where the R/V Neil Armstrong is currently docked. Photo by Emma Jackman.

Saturday was a day of unpacking and equipment set up, as Lucy and I prepared the chlorophyll filtration system which we will be using throughout the journey. We also assisted Hilary with securing the other scientific equipment in our assigned lab space. This involved many strategically placed zip ties, wall hooks, and tied cords. An additional challenge was organizing supplies which will need to be mobile and easily available throughout the trip. With limited bench space, we will be continually updating our storage system to ease movement between the main lab, wet lab, and on-deck sampling area after casts.

This is Lucy on the bridge of the R/V Neil Armstrong, taken during our first day exploring the ship. From the bridge we can see some lovely mountains in the distance. Photo by Emma Jackman.

Several conversations between Hilary and other members of the science crew have already expanded my understanding of the sensors that we will be working with this month. For example, I learned that “drift” refers not only to physical drifting, but the tendency of sensors to lose their calibration over time. One of our goals for this research trip is to improve calibration techniques for the dissolved oxygen sensors that are currently placed on the OOI Irminger Sea moorings and gliders, therefore reducing the instrumental drift. 

Lucy and I have a great view of the Reykjavik harbor from our cabin window. As indicated by the blue sky, the sun made a brief appearance on our first day exploring the ship. Photo by Emma Jackman.

Learning terms like drift and exploring the layout of the Armstrong have helped me feel more confident and ready to conduct research here for the next few weeks, and now that our team is moved onto the ship, I am eager to set out for the Irminger Sea!

By Emma