Data, Islands, and Packing!
MTF: My new Oboz day hikers!
LFP: Slow convergence...non GLONASS enabled equipment!
Hallo! So yesterday was an incredibly productive day. We visited FOUR different islands. We got one giant pass (ok Richard got it), and we CHIRPED behind the reef rim in the lagoon. Apparently the hydrolite is bent on self-destruction. First off, our lovely Captain, Tracey, made a new metal rod to replace the one that broke off two days ago. So that was great because were still able to use the Hydrolite. However, during the course of day, the VERY CHEAPO plastic bracket, that secures the hydrolite pole to the boat, decided it needed to break a bit. So while Richard was tightening the plastic screw it broke off in his hand (and managed to slice his thumb a bit). So now I get to tighten the bl**dy screw with a vice grip (one of my LEAST favorite tools since they always rust and are clumsy). Anyways, while we were underway somehow the bluetooth antenna on top of the hydrolite also managed to break. Luckily we do not use bluetooth to connect to the GPS receiver but still...in the future we might want to.
Anyways, aside from the Hydrolite committing harikari, the day went really well. We went pretty far north up on the eastern edge of the atoll and visited 4 different islands for GPR data, topo data, and terrestrial surface samples. Because I made the mistake of learning the trimble software, I got to be the one hiking around the islands gathering topo data. Sadly, the Trimble takes WAY too long to converge to an accurate GPS signal, moreover if there is even a hint of a tree, it loses it's d**n signal immediately. What this means is that my trek around the island can be rather slow. I mean it's kinda nice because I have a small backpack on and I just have to walk. But it gets hot rather easily! I usually try to circumnavigate the island and then go across the interior as much as possible. We got decent coverage (if not accuracy) on most of the islands.
We were so hot and tired by the last island (Eniwatek) that we just swam ashore to it from the boat (it was way too vegetated for either GPR or trimble GPS) to take surface samples. It's funny how excited the group got about hiking through the tropical island jungle on the island. I've got to say, tropical island jungle (like you get in South Florida) is not my favorite. I much prefer rainforest like the Amazon :). Anyways, very cute pictures were taken (on the lab camera not mine).
At the end of the day, we spent the evening (and early morning) packing up all of our stuff because today we move up to a different base island on Kwajalein -- Roi Namur. We are in Roi for 4 days (really 2.5 days of fieldwork). Luckily the boat is taking all of our equipment so we aren't beggared by baggage fees! Still there was quite a lot to pack. I'm not sure about my internet connection for the next couple of days in Roi, so I may not update for a while!
LFP: Slow convergence...non GLONASS enabled equipment!
Hallo! So yesterday was an incredibly productive day. We visited FOUR different islands. We got one giant pass (ok Richard got it), and we CHIRPED behind the reef rim in the lagoon. Apparently the hydrolite is bent on self-destruction. First off, our lovely Captain, Tracey, made a new metal rod to replace the one that broke off two days ago. So that was great because were still able to use the Hydrolite. However, during the course of day, the VERY CHEAPO plastic bracket, that secures the hydrolite pole to the boat, decided it needed to break a bit. So while Richard was tightening the plastic screw it broke off in his hand (and managed to slice his thumb a bit). So now I get to tighten the bl**dy screw with a vice grip (one of my LEAST favorite tools since they always rust and are clumsy). Anyways, while we were underway somehow the bluetooth antenna on top of the hydrolite also managed to break. Luckily we do not use bluetooth to connect to the GPS receiver but still...in the future we might want to.
Anyways, aside from the Hydrolite committing harikari, the day went really well. We went pretty far north up on the eastern edge of the atoll and visited 4 different islands for GPR data, topo data, and terrestrial surface samples. Because I made the mistake of learning the trimble software, I got to be the one hiking around the islands gathering topo data. Sadly, the Trimble takes WAY too long to converge to an accurate GPS signal, moreover if there is even a hint of a tree, it loses it's d**n signal immediately. What this means is that my trek around the island can be rather slow. I mean it's kinda nice because I have a small backpack on and I just have to walk. But it gets hot rather easily! I usually try to circumnavigate the island and then go across the interior as much as possible. We got decent coverage (if not accuracy) on most of the islands.
We were so hot and tired by the last island (Eniwatek) that we just swam ashore to it from the boat (it was way too vegetated for either GPR or trimble GPS) to take surface samples. It's funny how excited the group got about hiking through the tropical island jungle on the island. I've got to say, tropical island jungle (like you get in South Florida) is not my favorite. I much prefer rainforest like the Amazon :). Anyways, very cute pictures were taken (on the lab camera not mine).
At the end of the day, we spent the evening (and early morning) packing up all of our stuff because today we move up to a different base island on Kwajalein -- Roi Namur. We are in Roi for 4 days (really 2.5 days of fieldwork). Luckily the boat is taking all of our equipment so we aren't beggared by baggage fees! Still there was quite a lot to pack. I'm not sure about my internet connection for the next couple of days in Roi, so I may not update for a while!
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| my very sad broken sunglasses... |
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| Our very cute CHIRP system :) |
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| Thank god for golf carts -- Steph working the GPR |
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| View of the boat in the pass |
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| Panorama :) |
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| Steph rocking the rocks |
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| The guys enjoying the shade while we clamber over rocks to get samples! |
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| Panorama's are fun :) |
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| Walking with the Trimble GPS on the very steep beach of coral rubble! |
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| Read this sign -- it's hilarious! |
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