Some of these buoys stay at the ocean surface, while others (specifically, the long and skinny Argo floats) will regularly sink to depths of 1,000 meters and 2,000 meters to take sub-sea measurements and then return to the surface to transmit their findings. Amazing, right?! Buoys like this, in oceans around the world, give us a real-time analysis of ocean health, and the current journey to the Weddell Sea is a great opportunity to place buoys in rarely-visited waters.
Each buoy is scheduled to be thrown overboard at a specific latitude, somewhere between 42 degrees South and 65 degrees South, regardless of the longitude. Carla coordinates closely with the navigational officers on the bridge (where they steer the ship) and they let her know when we are approaching the next line of latitude. The buoys are stored in the web biology lab alongside the ship's stern (back) deck. When Carla has identified the Argo buoy to be deployed, I take a marker and add the names of the schools (one in the U.S., Canada, or England, and one in South Africa or Namibia) that have partnered to "adopt" that buoy and use the data it provides to work on collaborative school projects. We put on hard helmets and lifejackets, and carry the Argo float and any other buoys to be deployed to the stern deck. Under the guidance of a member of the ship's crew, and in coordination with the bridge, we wait until the ship arrives at the intended line of latitutde, activate the buoys, and toss them over the edge. They quickly disappear behind the ship as we continue on our way.
This amazing technology, combined with the dedication of people like Marc and Carla, will help us all learn more about the oceans and how they impact global weather and climate.
