So with our arrival back at Whittard it's time to get stuck back into the science. One of the first things we did when we reached Whittard was deployment of our two elevators which contain numerous scientific experiments. This went without a hitch and the elevators reached the seabed in the early hours. With daylight upon us ISIS was deployed by the night watch and reached the elevator at mid day when the day watch - which I am now a member of - took charge. Our first job was to find holothurians to put in an experiment being run by Teresa. Holothurians are quite abundant in the canyon so we soon found a few for the first experiment and then set about find several more for another experiment run by Teresa which looks at holothurians poo... Yep, their poo. You have to understand that these little critters play a major role in the ecosystems and by studying there poo Teresa can understand more about their habits. it's a dirty job, but someone has to do it!!
A minor fault caused ISIS to be recovered early. A simple case of a pipe coming loose – but a nightmare because the vehicle needs to be recovered. Ben had the pipe sorted out in no time.
Teresa also had a number of Holothurians on ISIS which she will be studying as part of her ongoing experiment.
Whilst ISIS was on deck the coring lads swung into action and launched the mega core to get samples from the seabed. After the mega core was recovered Jez switched over to the truly massive piston core to get deeper samples from the seabed.
currently we are coring still with plans to deploy ISIS later this afternoon to continue working with the experiments.
Almost forgot - we saw more pilot whales and some dolphins from a distance yesterday!
Above Adult Gannet
Above: ISIS being deployed for yet another dive
Above: ISIS being deployed
Above: The deck lads adding ISIS's floats
Above: Bridget ahs a go a flying during the ascent to the surface at the end of the dive
Above: While veerle reads a paper
Above: pilot whale pod
Above: Pilot whales
Above: More pilot whales
Above: Pilot whales
Above: Pilot whale fins
Above: Pod showing off their fins
Above: Whale spy hoping
Above: Pilots swim off
Above: jess and Sven looking at one of our cores
Above: Close-up of a core showing the various layers
Above: Paul working with some mega cores
Above: libby getting stuck in!
Above: Sieving the mud to see what's in it
Above: sieving the mud
Above: Libby with some of the mud!
Above: The muddy water is pured back into the sea to confuse scientists who visit the spot in a few hundred years....
Above: Mike sieving the mud
Above: Sieving
Above: Some dolphins - a long way off!!
Above: Jez gets the piston core ready
Above: Paul giving his stern look
Above: Author gets stuck into setting up the piston core with the deck lads
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