Research and Weather

OAR Northwest is engaged in research.

Scientists, researchers, institutions, corporation and volunteers are involved with OAR Northwest research programs.  Underway with CWF Salish Sea Expedition, the vessel and crew members are outfit with many instruments that would both sample the environment automatically and manually.

Marine and Oceanographic Sciences

Ocean Rowboat "James Robert Hanssen"

Partnering Members:

• Dr. Fritz Stahr
  University of Washington, School of Oceanography
• Dr. Eric Grossman
  United States Geological Survey (USGS), Marine Geologist
• Dr. Joel Elliot
  University of Puget Sound, Marine Biology

The ocean rowboat is equipped with instrumentation that measures and provides the following parameters (not exclusive):

Automatic:

Water Temperature, Water Salinity, Water Turbidity, Disolved Oxygen Content of Water, Chlorophyll Content, Broad Spectrum Hydrophone, Air Temperature, Wind Chill Temperature, Apparent and True Wind Speed and Direction, Barometric Pressure, GPS Latitude and Longitude, Heading, Pitch and Roll

Manual:

At Depth (~50 feet) Water Conductivity, Temperature, Salinity, Pressure, and Speed of Sound
Photo and Video of Marine Life (Animal/Bird/Marine Organisms)

Use of Data:

Longitudinal multi week study of surface and 50ft depth ocean environment in 20 minute and and 2 hour time frames.
Use for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in classrooms
Many general and specific hypothesis to be investigated via use of data aggregated into existing data sets (i.e. how does snow pack run off western Vancouver Island effect water and habitat)

Environmental Properties (water temperature, salinity & dissolved oxygen)

Examine the Salish Sea environment via near-real-time measurements.  Students and public are invited to monitor and analyze Salish Sea water quality and ecosystems.  Measurements made along the expedition are broadcast daily to a central server and available on at this interactive map.

Zoom in on the map and click on a colored circle to find a data set like this one to the right.  Click on the three buttons at the top to toggle among viewing the Temperature (Temp), Salinity and Dissolved Oxygen (DO).

Environmental conditions and regulations are commonly described by criteria or standards.  Cool blue colors are often associated with superior conditions, while red may indicate fair or even poor conditions.  View the illustration below to find three water quality parameters in the Salish Sea: temperature, dissolved oxygen and salinity.

Water Quality Parameters in Salish Sea. Illustrated by Sarah Grossman

Atmospheric Sciences and Weather Reports

Weather forecasts are provided twice daily by the University of Washington Student Chapter of the American Meteorological Society, a group of undergrad and graduate students interested in weather and climate.  Forecasting for the expedition is a vital tool for the ocean rowers, for UW students make analyses of models and provide local tidal information. View past forecasts on their designated website.

Dr. David Burch of the Starpath Corporation
Note regarding wind model animation below: ” This type of data is easy to come but result may be over relied upon by mariners.  It is just one model picture. This data is a starting point for UW AMS Student Chapter forecasters and their model runs.  They study several others from Canada, US and UK, and they study discussions of these results. Only then, do forecasters develop their forecasts.”  (Model developed by Dr. Burch.  View his tracking discussion of OAR Northwest on his Facebook page.)

How Satellites and Computers Help Track the Crew

Existential-Phenomenological Psychology

Anders Holmberg wishes to create an image of the physiological and mental characteristics needed to withstand the demands of crossing an ocean, unsupported.  To learn about ocean rowers’ experience of crossing an ocean (alone or as part of a crew), the investigator carries out a phenomenological investigation that involves the oarsmen of the Oar Northwest expedition team.  Using a qualitative research methodology – existential-phenomenological – the study’s objective is to uncover and descriptively express themes of individual rowers’ experience and describe “keystones” that come into play, such as, the characteristics of the performer, the demands of the task, and the performance setting.

Principle Investigator

B. Anders Holmberg, M.Sc.
Doctorate Candidate
University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK)
Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport Studies