CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
Paul Morris, Karin Bjorkman and Andrew Hansen, University of Hawaii researchers aboard the Kilo Moana, studied nitrogen-fixing organ
UH ship Scientists were delighted to see huge -- even "humongous" -- blooms of plant life blanketing the ocean during the Kilo Moana's first research cruise in Hawaiian waters.
passes first test
Researchers marvel at
Science sets sail
the extent of plant life in the
open ocean north of HawaiiBy Helen Altonn
haltonn@starbulletin.com"When we came across the blooms, I got so excited," said Douglas Capone, an oceanographer with the University of Southern California, explaining one of the goals was to study how much nitrogen fertilization is going on for ocean productivity.
Capone was one of the principal investigators on the first scientific mission for the Kilo Moana, a new Navy research ship operated by the University of Hawaii.
The ship left Sept. 22 and returned Thursday with scientists from institutions funded by the National Science Foundation to study complex biochemical and climate processes on the ecosystem.
University of Hawaii biological oceanographer David Karl is also one of the principal investigators.
GRAPHIC BY DAVID SWANN / DWANN@STARBULLETIN.COM
Specs >> Built: 2002
>> Length: 186 feet
>> Beam (width): 88 feet
>> Gross tonnage: 2,500
>> Crew: 17 crew members and 31 scientists
>> Speed: 15 knots
>> Range: 10,000 nautical miles at 11 knotsSource: School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology, University of Hawaii
The ship will leave tomorrow for 25 days on its second cruise to map coral reef reserve areas in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands with scientists from different parts of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
John R. Smith Jr. of the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory, one of the leading investigators, said the Kilo Moana is "a really good platform for what we'll be doing." It's the only ship in the Navy's university research fleet with a SWATH (small water-plane area twin hull) design.
Capone said putting things over the side and retrieving them was a little challenging on his cruise because the ship is way up off the ocean. But he added, "We nailed the things we wanted to study. We'll take it (the ship) any time we can get it."
He said calm weather and seas contributed to the large blooms of organisms. At first, he said, "We thought it was toilet paper over the side ... It looked like huge tumbleweeds northeast of Oahu."
The ship's itinerary included Station Aloha, about 60 miles north of Oahu. Scientists have been investigating that site monthly in a Hawaii Ocean Time (HOT) series.
Open-ocean blooms have been seen "periodically and unpredictably," said Karl, pointing out the organisms need nitrogen, phosphorus, iron and other nutrients to survive, just as all plants do.
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
The pilot house, where the ship's vital operations are controlled, including speed, direction and communications.
Iron is believed supplied in the Pacific by dust blowing in from China. Research at Station Aloha indicates nitrogen is obtained from specialized microorganisms called "nitrogen-fixing" bacteria, Karl said. Several new species have been discovered in the HOT program. A key nutrient they need for growth is phosphorus, he said.
On the last cruise from Karl's group were researchers Karin Bjorkman and Paul Morris and Andrew Hansen, a graduate student.
"We found what we were looking for -- a specific organism (called Trichodesmium)," Bjorkman said. It is a type of blue green algae with special pigments that fixes nitrogen other plants can use for growth," she said.
Capone's group trapped sediments, collected particles and water samples and conducted experiments to try to determine the extent of photosynthesis or nitrogen fertilization in the upper level of the ocean.
"The issue of converting nitrogen from gas phase to something the ecosystem can use is really critical," Capone said.
The research is important to assess food production in the sea, ocean uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, how much nitrogen fixed by algae ends up in the deep sea and limiting factors to nitrogen fertilization, the scientists said.
The Kilo Moana's next cruise will make use of its sophisticated mapping system and other instruments to determine boundaries of islands, atolls and reefs in the reserve area from Nihoa to Lisianski Island.
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
The CTD measures vertical profiles of seawater conductivity, temperature and depth, and can take water samples in bottles that are opened and closed by commands through the conducting cable.
Smith said the only data available is from nautical charts and much of that work was done at the turn of the century for the trans-Pacific telegraph cable.
The boundaries are critical because they will determine final reserve areas and each will have different classifications, Smith said. Some will be closed totally to fishing and some closed for an assessment period, he said.
Others from UH on the trip will be Victoria Rectenwald, graduate oceanography student, and Paul Johnson, mapping specialist.
Smith and HURL researcher Chris Kelley just returned from a 26-day mapping and research cruise in the northwestern chain with the Kai'imikai-O-Kanaloa, mother ship for HURL's submersible Pisces V.
The Kilo Moana will visit different areas, Smith said, doing mostly "doughnut surveys" where they map sites in a ring around a 100-fathom contour.
The data also will be used to describe habitats and help with National Marine Fisheries Service and HURL's science programs, Smith said.
The expedition can be followed on the Northwestern Hawaiian Island Ocean Exploration web site: http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/02hawaii/welcome.html.
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Science sets sail
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GRAPHIC BY DAVID SWANN / DWANN@STARBULLETIN.COM
Source: School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology, University of HawaiiThe Kilo Moana is one of most advanced oceanographic research vessels in the world. Built by the Navy, the ship will be based at Honolulu's Snug Harbor and operated by the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at the University of Hawaii under a charter party agreement with the Office of Naval Research.
The dean of the University of Hawaii School of Ocean & Earth Science & Technology, C. Barry Raleigh, calls it a "great big new toy. UH’s $45 million
floating laboratoryBy Helen Altonn
haltonn@starbulletin.com"It will probably be the ship of choice for oceanographers throughout the country," he said.
It's the $45 million Kilo Moana, newest and most novel ship in the Navy's research fleet because of its SWATH (small water-plane area twin hull) design. It is assigned to the UH and operated by SOEST from its marine base at Sand Island.
The ship returned Thursday from its first major scientific cruise with researchers from seven oceanographic institutions, including UH, praising its performance and crew.
It's scheduled to leave tomorrow on a 25-day voyage to map coral reef reserves in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
Besides a stable platform for ocean work, the ship's unique features include two multibeam swath mapping systems for shallow and deep water, dynamic positioning, a sophisticated science information system and lab space and quarters for 30 scientists.
"It's doing well," reported UH geophysicist-geologist Brian Taylor, who wrote SOEST's proposal to manage the ship and has guided the design and construction for several years.
The ship's first programs, investigating microorganisms in Hawaiian waters and the coral reef ecosystem in the Northwestern chain, reflect the meaning of its Hawaiian name: "Oceanographer" or "one who is looking for understanding of the deep sea."
SECOND DECK
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
Spacious science leader's quarters feature private showers and toilets.
GRAPHIC BY DAVID SWANN / DWANN@STARBULLETIN.COM
Source: School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology, University of Hawaii
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
The ship's crew quarters have two bunks to each room and toilet facilities.
FIRST DECK
The computer lab is the nerve center for all science operations.
GRAPHIC BY DAVID SWANN / DWANN@STARBULLETIN.COM
Source: School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology, University of Hawaii
The lounge is equipped with a DVD player, stereo system and large-screen television.
MAIN DECK
The hydro lab can be opened to the weather and is where the Conductivity Temperature Depth device is operated.
GRAPHIC BY DAVID SWANN / DWANN@STARBULLETIN.COM
Source: School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology, University of Hawaii
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
The multibeam processing lab makes maps of the ocean floor from sonar data.
