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Teacher at Sea: Alaska Hydrographic Survey Mission Plan
Overview
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During the 2004 field season the NOAA Teacher at Sea Program will send a high school physical science and biology teacher on a hydrographic survey cruise in the narrow channels and waterways of southeast Alaska.
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This NOAA Teacher at Sea mission will engage a high school physical science and biology teacher from Fairbanks, Alaska in hydrographic surveys throughout two regions of Alaska–the southeast archipelago, also known as the inside passage, and Cook Inlet–during the 2004 summer field season. The survey work will recover and redeploy current meters, maintain and install tide guages, and install a high frequency surface current mapper. The survey work is in support of the National Current Observation Program operated by NOAA's Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS).
A scientific cruise between May 17 to May 28 from Petersburg to Sitka in southeast Alaska aboard the NOAA ship RAINIER will be the centerpiece of the teacher's “at sea” experience. During the cruise, several current meter stations will be recovered and redeployed. In addition to the current meter work, the RAINIER supports hydrographic surveys that will provide additional scientific opportunities for the teacher while on board. Other land-based opportunities will be available for the Teacher at Sea from June through August.
Background and Context
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Smaller vessels are often needed to conduct hydrographic survey work in order to navigate shallow, near shore waters.
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NOAA's Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) collects, distributes, and predicts water levels and currents data through its National Current Observation Program (NCOP). The data help to ensure safe, efficient and environmentally sound maritime commerce and support hazardous material response, research, and marine recreation. The data are used in the National Water Level Observation Network (NWLON), the national network of Physical Oceanographic Real-Time Systems (PORTS) in major U.S. harbors, and in other maritime applications. Tidal current predictions are published in the NOAA Tidal Current Tables.
NCOP data are collected with current meters using Doppler technology in sub-surface moorings, bottom mounts and mounted on piers. During the Alaskan NCOP 2004 field season, each current meter station will be deployed for at least 30 days in order to obtain tidal constituents from harmonic analysis.
Need for Tidal Current Data in Cook Inlet and Southeast Alaska
Cook Inlet is one of the most important estuaries in the country. The Port of Anchorage, at the head of the Inlet, serves 80 percent of Alaska’s population, while the central portion of the Inlet is a center of extensive oil production and transport. It is also a region where an important ecological balance exists between the land and ocean. Navigation in Cook Inlet can be hazardous for both small recreational craft and large tankers due to, among other factors, swift tidal currents and extreme tidal ranges.
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Cruise ships along Alaska's inside passage require highly accurate navigation data generated by regular hydrographic surveys.
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More than one thousand islands make up the Alexander Archipelago of southeast Alaska, alongside a snow and glacier-capped mountainous eastern edge on the continental mainland. Economically, it is a region of timber, fishing, mining, and increasingly, tourism. Due to the lack of overland routes for all but a few cities and towns on the northern and southern extremes, a safe and effective maritime highway system is absolutely vital.
Cruise Schedule
May 13, 2004 – Teacher at Sea team meets in Petersburg, AK.
May 14-15 – Little Norway Festival; team to interview and train on the video equipment.
May 16 – Load all necessary equipment onto the RAINIER and prepare for sea.
May 17 – Leave Petersburg on the RAINIER.
May 18-20 – Sail to Killisnoo, AK – deploy current meter station AK0406.
May 21-22 – Depart RAINIER via ship's launch to Sitka, AK to meet with CO-OPS field team at tide gauge.
May 23-27 – Back on board RAINIER. Conduct hydrographic survey work. Recover current meter stations AK0407-AK0409.
May 28 – In port Sitka. Offload equipment and ship to necessary
locations. End of Cruise.
Current Meter Recovery and Deployment
The RAINIER deployed the first set of current meter stations in April 2004. Three of these stations (AK0407-AK0409) in the region of Sitka, AK will be recovered during the May 17-28 cruise (Figure 1) and one (AK0406) (Figure 2) will be deployed (Table 1).
| Station ID |
Station Name |
Depth (m) |
Latitude |
Longitude |
| AK0406 |
Killisnoo Harbor |
30 |
57º 27.9142' N |
134º 33.7645' W |
| AK0407 |
Eastern Channel Sitka
Sound |
130 |
57º 00.8610' N |
135º 21.5293' W |
| AK0408 |
Middle Channel Sitka Sound |
75 |
57º 01.6652' N |
135º 23.4080' W |
| AK0409 |
Western Channel |
40 |
57º 03.0650' N |
135º 23.7221' W |
Table 1. Southeast Alaska stations
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Figure 2. Location of current meter to be deployed in Killisnoo Harbor during May 17-28 NOAA Teacher at Sea cruise.
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Figure 1. Locations of current meters to be recovered near Sitka, AK during May 17-28 NOAA Teacher at Sea cruise.
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