NOAA Teacher at Sea, Curtis Watkins, on deck the NOAA Ship Rainier, anticipates his ride on a survey launch that will collect bottom sounding data in southeast Alaska during the 2004 National Current Observation Program field season.

The NOAA Teacher at Sea Program and the National Current Observation Program (NCOP) are sponsoring a teacher at sea onboard the NOAA Ship Rainier during the NCOP 2004 research project in Alaska. The Teacher at Sea Program enables teachers from kindergarten through college go to sea aboard NOAA hydrographic, oceanographic, and fisheries research and survey ships to work under the tutelage of scientists and crew. Now in its 14th year, the program has given nearly 400 teachers the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in science at sea. Teachers can enrich their classroom curricula with a depth of understanding made possible by living and working side-by-side, day and night, with those who contribute to the body of scientific knowledge of the marine environment.

The National Current Observation Program, managed by NOAA’s Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS), collects, analyzes, and distributes tidal current observations and predictions. The information is used for ensuring safe, efficient, and environmentally sound maritime commerce and for supporting hazardous material spill response.

NOAA ship Rainier in Sitka, Alaska. It is equipped with intermediate depth multibeam sonar, six launches with multibeam swath and single beam echo sounders, a hydrographic data acquisition system, three small boats to support shore stations and dive operations, and a crew of 55. Mt. Edgecumbe is in the background.

The NCOP 2004 field season is focusing on two regions of Alaska–Cook Inlet and the southeast archipelago. Cook Inlet, one of the most important estuaries in the U.S., is home to the Port of Anchorage, which serves 80 percent of Alaska’s population, and is a center of extensive oil production and transport. Navigating Cook Inlet can be hazardous for both small recreational craft and large tankers due to swift tidal currents and extreme tidal ranges. In southeast Alaska, over 1,000 islands of the Alexander Archipelago create challenges to safe navigation.

Curtis Watkins, physical science and biology teacher from Lathrop High School in Fairbanks, Alaska, was selected as the NOAA Teacher at Sea for this project. He will sail aboard the NOAA Ship Rainier from May 17-28 from Petersburg to Sitka, in southeast Alaska, to work with scientists conducting hydrographic surveys in Sitka Sound. The surveys, which determine least depths and locate obstructions and hazards to navigation, will be used to update the area's nautical charts. During the cruise, scientists will also recover and redeploy current meters. Mr. Watkins will also participate in additional activities throughout the summer such as high frequency surface current mapper and tide gauge installations.

This Web page will feature daily logs and images from Mr. Watkins during his time on board the Rainier and during other activities throughout the summer. The logs will include information on ship location, environmental conditions at sea, research activities, and interviews with scientists on board. Students and others can email questions to him on board the vessel at Curtis.Watkins@noaa.gov.