Shumagin Islands

We have been working at our survey area in the Shumagin Islands for the past week. On Saturday we spent the entire day on a nearby island installing a tide gauge and base station. It was a beautiful day and a nice treat to get to go on land.
Today, we have two boats out surveying on my assigned sheet. I had to do some prep work for it last night and write up boat sheets so they would know where to go.

BASE STATION INSTALL
The base station install was a great success. We had a small Horcon team working on that and a large tide gauge team (including divers) installing a tide gauge at the same time. All of this was installed in the same area. This allowed us to work together and get everything done much quicker and with more ease. We were able to get a boat right up to the island to transfer personnel and gear. (It was much easier than at Chirikof Island).

Once we arrived, we got to work by bringing all the Horcon (Horizontal Control) gear to the top of the island. Once ready to set up, we (the Horcon team) had to install a benchmark. We install benchmarks for the level to be placed on top of, along side the antenna. This involves drilling into bedrock, applying concrete, and inserting the benchmark so it is level and doesn't move around.

Tide gauge party

Tide staff

Horcon site

Drilling into bedrock to install benchmark

 

Chiseling the area so the benchmark will fit properly

Mixing the cement for the benchmark

 

 

 

We also made sure that the benchmark itself was level before letting the concrete dry

Once the base station was setup we installed some bolts into the bedrock so the solar panels could be secured. Although it was a gorgeous day, we need to think about the kind of weather that occurs in the Shumagins. We certainly don't want to lose any of our gear because it wasn't secured properly.
We used parachute chord to tie the solar panels down to the bolts. Once this was accomplished we plugged the solar panels into the batteries that power the base station to make sure everything was working properly.

Securing solar panels for the base station

Leveling

Everything has to be very secure due to extreme weather

Base station

Making sure it is still level

Completed base station

As we were finishing up, the tide party was completing their level run

After a day on the island, the fog rolled in. It was spectacular to see the fog fall like that

BOAT SHEETS
Just a little refresher on what polygons are and why/how we use them. Each survey area we are assigned to is broken up into different sheets. These sheets are assigned to a sheet manager (who may also have a sheet mentor or assistant ). Each sheet manager is then responsible for determining the way the data is acquired by drawing polygons (with approval, of course). The Shumagin Islands survey has been broken up into 9 sheets, as shown below.

Shumagin Islands Survey area

 Each sheet manager spends time drawing polygons within their sheet limits. The polygons become "workable" areas for the launches. So, when we send the launches out, we can assign a certain number of polygons to them in a certain area that we predetermine as safe. It also allows us to be flexible in cases of bad weather. A launch can move to a different polygon in a more protected area, for example.

Today, we sent out four launches to do data acquisition, two of which are acquiring data on my sheet. In order for the launches to do this, the sheet managers have to make a boat sheet. Our boat sheets instruct the launch party where they need to survey, which polygons to fill in, what files have been uploaded, any dangers, etc. It is important to include any and all information relevant to the area that they are surveying. Here is my boat sheet.

 

I have been assigned to night processing tonight, so I'm looking forward to getting my hands on some data for my sheet.

DATA ACQUISITION
Some days are better than others for data acquisition. We have been lucky with the weather thus far, but we have had some more crummy days as of late.
Here are some cool pictures I took while on a launch. We were planning on going out to survey, but the weather picked up quickly, so we returned to the ship.

 

Launch hiding behind a large wave

 

 

 

 

We have had some bumpy transits as well. I was lucky to get some great wave and sunset pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our next inport will be Kodiak, again. We will arrive in Kodiak on Friday and spend the long weekend there before heading back out to the Shumagin Islands.