Ellie Pohlig, Concord Carlisle High School

Starting at 0830 today, Starboard Watch took over while port did galley cleanup and daily chores. Starboard then broke into two groups: deck set the sails and made sure we didn't sail over any lobster pot buoys, while science recorded important information about the ship (the log, our coordinates, our speed, etc.) and finished a Hundred Count consisting mostly of copepods, with a few clodocera and fish eggs as well.

The science group then deployed the phytoplankton and Neuston nets, so we could collect more creatures to study and record. At 1300, Port Watch took over and deployed more instruments while Starboard had free time until class at 1430. In class, we split into two groups again for experiments about the light levels in the ocean: one dropped Light Attenuating Spheroids (M&Ms) over the side to record the number of seconds before each color disappeared while the other group deployed the Secchi disk (a white plastic disk) to see the depth at which it was no longer visible. This depth is the point where only 18% of the surface light is visible, which will allow us to find the depth for 1% - the deepest point where photosynthesis can happen. Then we switched groups so everyone could do everything.

After dinner, we had free time, during which a few other people and I (Ellie P) got to go aloft. When we had anchored, they even let us climb to the second platform! Then we watched Amy's presentation on Antarctica and her studies and job there, which was really interesting. Afterwards, we all went above decks to watch the sunset, and when anchor watches started and the stars came out, a lot of people stayed up to stargaze. The sky was really clear, so we were able to see a lot of stars, including the Milky Way and a few shooting stars! Overall, everyone had a great day.

- Ellie Pohlig, Concord Carlisle High School

PS: Hi Mom, Katie, and Uncle Toby! I miss all of you, and can't wait to tell you about everything we've been doing; I'm having so much fun! Also, Katie, I saw a shark fin a few days ago! О│┼ Love, Ellie