Tom Coad - Day 1 The voyage began bright and early as we sailed through Sydney Harbour on marine research vessel the 'Southern 'Surveyor'. As we sailed under the iconic harbour bridge it was not long before we were at sea with land far out of sight. With intentions to sample two stations before nightfall we began an southeastward transect from the coast. Weather has been reasonably accommodating thus far, with relatively light swell and winds just under 30 knots, although some voyagers are already feeling the effects of the motion of the ocean. Operations began with the deployment of the CTD (Conductivity Temperature Depth). This instrument is also fitted with a transmissometer, fluorometer and PAR, oxygen and nitrate sensors. The CTD was accompanied by a total of six XBTs (eXpendable BathyThermograph) being deployed at the beginning and at intervals throughout its descent. Bottles from the CTD will analysed for oxygen, chlorophyll and nutrients. Upon retrieval, the CTD was promptly followed by a surface plankton net tow that yielded high abundances of zooplankton. The CPR (Continuous Plankton Recorder) was also deployed for its opportunistic crossing of Bass Straight with data collected adding to the comprehensive and long term data set along this transect. After a successful first day with all deployments going off without a hitch, there is excitement and hopes for some interesting findings surrounding an eddie we will approach within the next 24 hours.

Tamara Bartholomew Day 1 The Serious Science on the CSIRO Southern Surveyor At 0800h we left Sydney under the Sydney Harbor Bridge and passed the Opera house heading to the blue waters of the off the coast and following the East Australian Current (EAC). After a ship tour, safety brief and muster drill it became apparent that the ships movement proved difficult for some to navigate the direction of their breakfast. With scientist grid (and help from the crew) we battled through the day to complete 4 stations (sampling sites). Stations 1to 4 consisted of the deployment of a CTD (conductivity, temperature and depth recorder), XBT's (eXpendable Bathy Thermographs) and only 1,2 and 4 had a plankton net deployed. The XBT is a useful piece of equipment that measures the temperature profile of the first 1000 metres. Unfortunately the depth accuracy of the XBT's is in question with different manufacturing techniques causing it to fall faster or slower in the water column. To mitigate this we are using the highly accurate depth records of the CTD by launching 3 XBT's when the CTD is first deployed and 3 more when it descends downward. There appeared to be some problems with the XBT's registering from time to time and the common cause was thought to be a problem with the equipment and/or software. This was fixed and we hope there will not be complication the next day. The importance of watching the CTD cable as it surfaced proved useful as the copper wire used by the XBT's was found tangled around the cable (apparently a common problem). Lessons learnt and data gathered on a barmy day and night on the EAC, tune in tomorrow for another update on the CSIRO Southern Surveyors serious science.

Cas Price Day 1: 27.02. 2013 0645 Wake up to the sound of cupboards and doors opening. Aggrh? . The cabin is still dark, I?m on the top bunk with the curtains still pulled. Surely it can?t be time to get up. I don?t feel as though I?ve slept a wink. I mumble from behind the curtain to my roomy ?what?s the time?? expecting it be 0530. A bright chipper voice responds ?0645?. Left foot, right foot- It?s time to get up, as breaky is served at 730 followed by a morning of safety inductions. 0800 Move to the upstairs lounge for safety inductions. The ships like a rabbit warren with tiny stairwells and steep stairs. The pungent smell of diesel and oil seem to be following us where every we go. We definitely not on a cruise- there?s nothing glamorous at all about the S.S. its basic, old and seems a wee bit tired- it?s a working ship!. As the briefings continue, the Sydney Harbour Bridge captures our eye, we run out and wave goodbye to Sydney as we set out to the open ocean. Afterwards more briefings, food grazing, and a chance to get horizontal and catch up on some zzz?zzz? 2045 I?m on the PM shift so our first CTD (Conductivity, Temperature and Depth) and XBT (eXpendable BathyThermographs) launch is at 2100 followed by 0200. It?s pretty exciting, as we are in a massive warm eddy. It?s quite a large operation and we each have different roles. I?m in the operations room, communicating by radio with the ship?s crew where and when to stop the CTD. There are also live cameras linked around the deck so we can see what?s happening and for safety purposes. The CTD is drop to a pressure of 1000. On the way down it gives a profile of the salinity, temperature, fluorescence (which measures the chlorophyll). From the profiles the sampling depths are determined, placed in the computer and collected on the way back up. Once the CTD is on deck we take oxygen, nutrient, salinity and chlorophyll samples. We prepare the samples for analysis. After the CTD is on board we also tow plankton net for 5 to 10 mins to collect zooplankton and phytoplankton. Under microscopes we can categorise the phytoplankton and zooplankton to determine the community structure. As it 0430 this will be done after some shut eye.

Stacy Deppeler Day 1 Feb 27th 2013 Setting off into the EAC (East Australian Current) Our first morning on the Southern Surveyor was a hive of excitement and anticipation for the five day voyage ahead of us. After a hot breakfast our group of nine student scientists and two chief scientists assembled in the lounge to go through the necessary morning briefs as we sailed away from Sydney Harbour. Safety instructions, inductions and a maze of narrow corridors left a number of the party feeling a little green. However, there was no time to rest as our first sample station was waiting for us just after lunch. At each station a CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, Depth) was placed in the water, which measured temperature, salinity, oxygen and chlorophyll to a depth of 1000m. XBTs (eXpendable BathyThermographs) were thrown off the back of the boat while the CTD was at the surface and at various intervals throughout its descent to provide water temperature profiles. The data from both of these instruments would be used for calibration of the XBT fall rate to ensure accurate temperature profiles for climate studies. A plankton net was also towed through the surface water to catch phytoplankton and zooplankton samples for analysis. Throughout the evening and into the early morning hours another three stations were sampled as we made our way into the centre of a large warm-core eddy. During each CTD ascent we collected water samples at various depths (from 1000m to the surface) for further analysis by the instruments on board. A number of different containers were filled with water from the sample vessels to assess the salinity, oxygen, nutrient, and chlorophyll concentrations at pre-determined depths. After the final station was complete, at 4:30am, the four scientists on night duty headed for bed, while the five scientists on the day shift would rise in a few hours to prepare for the next scheduled station that day.

Amelia Travers At 0800 this morning the Southern Surveyor, complete with her enthusiastic crew of UTAS Masters students, farewelled Sydney and steamed out into the wide ocean. With a pilot at the helm we were given an introduction to the science activities planned for the voyage, shortly followed by a ?chefs tour? and safety induction to the ship which resembles in almost all ways a steel rabbit warren (sans rabbits). Despite some pale faces and queasy stomachs the Morning shift tackled the first science sampling station with vigour. We started by prepping the Conductivity Temperature Depth sensor (CTD), which is being used to calibrate a collection of eXpendable Bathy Thermographs (XBT), under the watchful eye of the crew. After a few technological glitches a number of XBT?s were released whilst the CTD made its stately way down to 1000m below sea level. From the operations room we watched as the temperature readings from the XBT?s that were dropped over the side. The water temperature varied from a balmy 25 degrees at the surface dropping slowly but surely down to a bitter 7 degrees or so around the 900m mark. After the CTD was recovered water samples were taken from canisters to measure attributes such as oxygen, nutrients and chlorophyll. All these measurements are used to develop an understanding of the water column and how that has changed over time. As the AM group signed off for the day, sea legs a little wobbly but hardening up, the PM shift signed on demonstrating great dedication to science by undertaking testing in the rolling seas from 2am till 4:30am. We?re all looking forward to facing the second day well rested with a full stomach!

Rob Polmear: I woke up on the southern surveyor and went to the mess for coffee followed by breakfast. The first hour or two was taken up by introductions and getting to know the ship whilst getting out to the first designated station. At the first station I was involved in manoeuvring/deploying the CTD rosette. About 40 minutes after it left the surface water we repositioned it in the wet lab to collect samples. While that was being done I helped in setting the zooplankton net. Next I looked at the zooplankton under the dissecting microscope as the ship went to station 2. At station 2 I switched roles and had a go at the XPT's. I also helped this time with the fluorometer sample collection and preparation from the CTD. I had a look at the zooplankton under the dissecting microscope to quickly note anything interesting particular between stations. At the beginning of the day I felt great but mid morning I was sick. My only comfort at that time was that others were spewing over the rails. That made me feel better but also a little sorry for them :). By lunch time my pills had kicked in and I was feeling pretty good but some of the others continued to get worst. I laughed but felt bad at the same time. After the work from station 2 was done, which was at about 7pm, I went to bed because there was a lot to take in and I got tired. I'll talk again tomorrow. See ya Rob

Today I will be posting the first of a handful of Ship's Logs from a number of IMAS students who have emailed me with their entries. They have limited access to the internet on board CISRO's research vessel Southern Surveyor so am blogging on dry land! The supervisors on board, Dr Zanna and Dr Patti, and I, along with the students involved, hope you enjoy reading about their daily activities and observations. Ship ahoy enjoy!