Albatross at Station P. (Photo by Traci Haddock)
Ocean Station PAPA: 50-deg N / 145-deg W; There is a strange fog here, bright but gray. Those who have been here often say it never goes away. (Photo by Kathy Hardy) 
Some things just don't go well together, like the Chief Scientist and a flare gun. (Photo by Kathy Hardy)OCEAN STATION P, NORTH PACIFIC (May 23, 2007): This morning I tested out a clean filtration rig which I will be using to filter an incubation experiment that I am starting when we get to Station P. I will be adding stable isotopes of iron and copper to sea water samples. Iron isotopes are forms of iron that differ in their molecular weight. Stable isotopes are nonradioactive isotopes. Because their molecular weight is different than the most common form of iron, they can be detected by a sophisticated instrument we have at UM called an ICPMS (inductively coupled mass spectrometer). I will be binding the 2 stable isotopes of iron to 2 different chemicals. The use of stable isotope analysis will allow me to see if the organisms can utilize the iron bound to these chemicals. The filtration rig uses compressed air to force the sample out of the bottle and through an inline filtration rig, which keeps the sample from being exposed to any contaminants. It is a good thing I tried it out with water first instead of using real samples. There were several leaks and water was squirting everywhere. It looked kind of like the guys that do the Belagio Fountain with Mentos and Diet Coke, only not so pretty. I still have to practice a few more times before the real thing.
This afternoon, there was a Laysan Albatross soaring back and forth behind the ship. A few times it got pretty close and it was huge. The wingspan is the same as a bald eagle.
This afternoon there was a bit of excitement. While on the ship, we have weekly training sessions or drills. Today’s drill was on flares and several people got to try shooting off a flare. Unfortunately, something went awry when Chief Scientist Mark Wells stepped to the back of the fantail to shoot off his flare. It hit the A frame and ricocheted back through the crowd of assembled scientists and crew and hit the portable lab that sits on the front of the fantail, burning a hole in the paint. Fortunately the crew were ready with fire extinguishers and no one was hurt, but it took a few seconds for the smoke to clear and for shocked bystanders to regain their composure.
Tonight we are at Ocean Weather Station P or PAPA as we call it. It is roughly N50 W 145. About 900 miles from land. There is a strange fog here, bright but gray. Those who have been here often say it never goes away.
I am glad that we will only be out here for four days.
