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What is there left to say? The blogs that have been written about this cruise cover the breadth and depth of this amazing expedition. If you are like me and you start at the end of the expedition, working your way backwards, then I recommend you read them all. Get inspired. Look at the beautiful photos. Learn … Continued
Now that I have recovered from lack of sleep, two weeks of intense sampling, and can feel the stable earth under my feet, I would like to share a special morning off the west coast of O‘ahu. Our first morning onboard the Falkor, I was able to watch the Waianae Valley illuminate with the rising … Continued
“Whenever you are able to achieve something that you couldn’t before, it always gives you hope for the future.” More than a decade went into the development of the #MicrobeEddyBots, but now they are able gather data in a manner and detail never-before seen. “It is this type of long term investment that I think … Continued
There are only a few places in the ocean where the dynamics of the microbial organisms are so tightly coupled that they give rise to perfect synchronicity. The North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (NPSG) that we are sailing through for this research cruise is one of these special places. In this ecosystem, light is one of … Continued
As we sail through the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (NPSG), we are surrounded by clear, blue water. Sunlight can penetrate beyond 100 meters in this part of the ocean, so the microscopic phytoplankton that make up the base of the food web have plenty of light for photosynthesis. What they do not have enough of … Continued
When I am out at sea and have just finished a long day of collecting seawater samples, my favorite comfort food is a big bowl of cereal. Among other things, my cereal box advises me to eat 8 mg of iron each day. Do not worry, I am assured: 100% of that iron can be … Continued
I really can’t stop moving. There are two reasons for this. One is that I am on a ship. The other is that I am on a ship. Yes, these are distinct reasons. First, life as a scientist on a research vessel is busy. I am running (or rather walking briskly; we do not run … Continued
“These eddy fields are fantastic natural laboratories. They are large enough that we are able to conduct simultaneous measurements using autonomous vehicles, profiling floats, and other instruments to take microbiology measurements, chemistry measurements, and geochemical measurements. These all come together so that we understand the living ecosystem of the eddy field.” In our newest video, … Continued
It is an amazing sight to see: water 360 degrees around you and nothing else. However, taking repetitive measurements every day in the middle of the Pacific Ocean for weeks at a time can take its toll, especially when the majority of our sampling consists of pushing water through a filter. A seemingly simple task … Continued
It is midnight, and the ship’s lights are dimmed to limit interference with some extremely light-sensitive instruments. Fernanda Henderikx and Mathilde Dugenne lower an optical float into the water with the moon as their main illumination source. It is an unusually beautiful scene to be conducting experiments in. Many microbes have diel rhythms, just like … Continued
