1 April Sea Day Seven Up, Up, And Away

Today we gathered on Deck Seven to launch the weekly weather balloon. If you were to look at the deck plan for Octantis you won’t see a deck seven. This area in normally off-limits to passengers and is for access to the various antennas and radomes. However, on weather balloon launch day we are allowed to gather around 073 for the 0800 launch. All over the world stations launch their balloons at 0800 local. Temperature, humidity, wind speed, and altitude data is transmitted from the balloon’s instrument package. Viking balloon launches are under the auspices of the Untied States National Ocean and Atmospheric Agency.

After, we adjourned for breakfast and pats on the back for our contribution to science. All this before Zoom church with the St Francis Regulars.

The morning lecture explained in very, very, basic terms how nuclear geochemistry answers questions on the dissolved minerals and other elements in sea water. There is not the expected transfer from the rocks and ground the rivers run over prior to emptying into the ocean. Some isotopes of iron cling to magnesium and in fact have a higher concentration in the ocean than in any of the rivers or even the rocks and earth at the water’s origin. Who knew? Who thought I’d even care, but the session was presented in a who-done-it-way that engaged all of us.

Team Trivia saw the women beat the men again. Which two countries have participated in every one of the modern Olympics?

The evening lecture reviewed the differences in feeding strategies between baleen whales and toothed whales, i.e., humpback vs killer. An interesting tidbit a whale’s throat is only as large as grapefruit. Even the largest whale, the blue whale, has a throat as large as a dinner plate. So, Pinocchio must have been a small marionette.

After dinner Viking officers and the musical staff entertained us with a game of Liars’ Club. Rarely used words are given and the three panelists provide a definition, only one is correct. We in the audience get to guess who is giving the correct answer. Karla and I tied for first with two other couples and won, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. BTW—That’s the prize for winning Trivia too.

That was our day on the ocean. Bright blue skies and deep blue water.