CTD (conductivity, temperature, depth)

There are so many COOL equipment in oceanography. These are generally expensive because of high precision, toughness, pressure resist, temperature, etc.

One of most essential equipment is CTD (conductivity, temperature, depth). Maybe 1st generation of CTD mainly measure the properties but nowadays scientists use for measuring lots of properties such as oxygen, light, particle concentration, etc. depending on extra sensors you attach on CTD. Also, CTD is equipped with bottles called Niskin that allow collecting water at any depth.






The bottles and all other equipment are controlled on deck.







CTD is best friend!

Working on research vessels

Yep! Best part in oceanography is working on a research vessel, that is sometimes huge but sometimes not. Tell me good and bad things about that.

1. Big (research vessel (RV) Knorr; 1st picture)
>Good: Lots of food! Amazing and automated facilities including Play Station in a real library. You can see marine animals such as dolphine, seal, or whale often. Pretty safe. Send email to family from personnel computer. Birthday party. Saturday liquor. Hot water.
>Bad: Depression. Sadness. Too long (one month)! American food! No!

-> It was my first experience and I spent one full month in the Pacific. Thanks to the opportunity, I could increase my English But having steaks, macaroni, hamburger,bacon, bread, etc. which were really great but it was a torturing for me (asian). Howeve, it was also great due meeting professors and students from many backgrounds was priceless.





2 Small (Horn Point research vessel)
>Good: Can go back home. Beautiful scenary. There are spectators (birds, people, crabs, etc.). Lunch prepared by me (Asian food). Working cell phone.

>Bad: No liquor. No chefs. No free meals. Tight space and time. Too hot in summer, too cold in winter. If you forget equipment, you already call it a day. Wet.

-> working in Monie Bay, MD. Collecting water and prepare nutrient samples.






Conclusion: There are no easy oceanography but all fun anyway.

Oceanography

Studying ocean looks very cool because it is water and relatively not known. It in part means that there are lots of things to do and lots of things we don't know.

As a graduate, I am involved in scientic projects, and sharing what I do and learn can be fun. Let me begin.