During this expedition we will maintain a log of information relayed from the chief Scientist on the expedition.  Whenever possible, images will be displayed along with the text.

April 18 - Day 2 - Status Report

18 April 2005 - The Drill Ship Out to Sea

Uncle John heading to Atwater Valley

Location: In transit from Mobile, AL to Atwater Valley Block 13

Science Update: Science Party continuing work getting labs and core logging equipment ready to handle cores. Science meeting was held to plan core handling rehearsal, discuss meetings policy, and plan Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) sampling. Core handling teams will walk through operations in the core receiving van at 1400 hrs on Tuesday.  Members of ROV team joined science meeting to discuss ROV sampling plans and capabilities. Interested parties went up on deck for demonstration of coring tools and water sampling devices.

Plans: Uncle John will arrive at the AV13 #1 site and be ready for operations by 2100 hrs this evening. The ROV will be used to take five short (50-60 cm) push cores and two 1-liter bottom water samples at the logging-while-drilling (LWD) hole location. One core each will be used for pore water chemistry, dissolved gas analysis, physical properties, microbiology, and archive.

Photos:
Loading the Uncle John [PowerPoint]
The drill ship out to sea - setting up the lab [PowerPoint]