Our flight from DIA to LAX was uneventful. We located each other using Chris and his wonderful blue NASA uniform. He is a character with a story for every occasion! We had to wait several hours for hotel check-in so decided to explore the surrounding area. We found an In-n-Out Burger joint and had to… Read More

Off to USC…a beautiful campus with lots of construction going on! Today we spent a good deal of time engaged in activities designed to introduce us to oceans and ocean literacy. Had an interesting presentation on ocean observing systems by Burt  Jones. The teachers participated in a really good jigsaw activity tying standards and concepts… Read More

Up bright and early so we can be at the Ocean Institute at Dana Point Harbor by 8am. Onboard the R/V Sea Explorer we were given a safety briefing and then we were out to sea to collect water samples off the coast. It was a beautiful clear day so we could see nothing but… Read More

This morning was a slightly shorter trip to Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro. By the way, did I mention Chris is our fabulous driver with help from navigators David and Rodney. They make a fabulous team. We have not been lost once and that infamous Southern California traffic has been unusually kind to us… Read More

Jet Propulsion Lab here we come!! Moving inland we could feel the humidity drop and the temperature rise, but it still felt cool compared to the heat we’ve been experiencing in CO. After the extensive check-in at JPL (they are sticklers for identification details), we were led to a conference room and introduced to several… Read More

After checking out of the historic Culver Hotel in beautiful downtown Culver City we are on our way to the last stop of our trip, UCLA. We began the morning with a review of the importance of incorporating the 7 principles of ocean literacy into our curriculum. Remember to check out the ocean literacy website… Read More

A week on the Pacific Coast As I reflect upon our group’s experience in Los Angeles with the COSEE- West Ocean Observing Systems Workshop, a couple of highlights emerge. First, as a land-locked Coloradoan, I am always surprised by the vastness of the Pacific Ocean no matter how many times I see it.  As a… Read More

Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) are unoccupied underwater robots, connected to an operator via a series of cables. The connecting cables transmit command and control signals to and from the underwater vehicle and the operator, allowing remote navigation of the vehicle.
A typical hydrographic ROV configuration includes a video camera, lights, sonar systems, and an articulating arm. The articulating arm can be used for retrieving small objects, cutting lines, or attaching lifting hooks to larger objects. The ROV system includes the vehicle, deck unit, tether management system, hand box controller, laptop computer, and video display. (NOAA 2010)
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Side scan sonar is a specialized sonar system for searching and detecting objects on the seafloor. Like other sonars, a side scan transmits sound energy and analyzes the return signal (echo) that has bounced off the seafloor or other objects. (NOAA 2010)… Read More