Lucky Journey | U.S. Geological Survey

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This was my biggest reward. We had been at sea for nearly three weeks and had not encountered a single storm. Not only that, but most of the sites we dived to investigate had exactly what we were looking for.

The scientists I was traveling with seemed to agree with me. Amanda Demopoulos, the lead scientist and my mentor, said that the only thing we could dive with every day was “bananas.” Then a crew member whispered that it was bad luck to have bananas on board.

Our ship, the R/V Falkor, is sailing from Astoria. Falkor is named after the lucky dragon from the movie The Neverending Story.

Going to sea

my name is Penny McCowen,I am a National Association of Geological Sciences Teachers I had just arrived in Gainesville, Florida for an internship when I was asked if I wanted to join this expedition, which was to the edge of Cascadia on the Pacific coast of Oregon and Washington. Once again, luck struck—I had done field work before, but never at sea, so this was a great opportunity.

After three weeks at sea, I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed the trip and learned a lot. Most of my previous work was in the laboratory, analyzing samples and interpreting the results. However, this cruise, I spent most of my time collecting samples.

I began recording what was happening in the ROV control room, watching the Pacific Ocean floor unfold before me. Subastian Wandering around looking for bubbles, rocks, and unsuspecting clams, I would keep a journal of what we caught and what we saw. My favorite by far was the octopus.

At the end of the day, the ROV retrieved samples from the seafloor, and I worked in the lab with other scientists to process the samples as quickly as possible while our ship, Falcostart moving to the next site.

Most of this knowledge was new to me. I think I’ve now dissected more clams than I’ve ever eaten, and I’ve learned to handle sediment cores, pick up rocks, and even pry tubeworms out of their protective shells. I’ve also learned, by listening to other scientists, how we’re going to use this information and how it’s going to fit together.

I am preparing some bottles for the large amount of sediment core that the ROV SuBastian will bring up on its latest dive to the seafloor at the edge of Cascadia.

Quite advanced

My undergraduate research focused on tardigrades (water bears), specifically freshwater water bears. As a senior in college, I hunted water bears in Kansas rivers and lakes. I was able to see echoes of my undergraduate research on this cruise, watching Amanda plan dives and develop contingency plans just in case.

I do similar things when designing my own experiments and planning my fieldwork. Figuring out how to get to the field sites, preparing alternatives in case a site is unavailable, laying out all the gear in advance, and keeping everything in mind—these are all important to us in the field. Falco.

The scale of the research here is the main difference. We coordinated a dozen scientists and many more support staff on board, and our site was hundreds of meters below sea level. I was really impressed by how everyone was able to come together and see how their work fit into the bigger picture.

I am preparing labels and bottles for a sample of clams I have collected at the Coquille site on the Oregon coast. I will dissect the clams and collect tissue from their mantles, feet, and muscles for isotope analysis.

Back to the lab

I really enjoy FalcoEveryone got along really well; even though we worked hard, everyone figured out ways to have fun. There were plenty of movies to watch at your leisure, and we even played a game of assassination a few days in a row to liven things up. It’s kind of like Clue in reverse – you’re given a target and a weapon, and you have to “kill” your target when no one else is around. On a ship, this can be challenging. I killed people several times, but ultimately didn’t win.

I am now looking forward to the next step. Once we return to the Port of Astoria and unload all of the samples, we will return to the lab in Gainesville to begin the analysis. Amanda tells me that the analysis and interpretation will continue for months, and some people will even use the samples years later. This is very different from college, where your project has a clear beginning and end point. If you don’t complete your research before graduation, you may not graduate!

This research cruise was a great opportunity to be aboard an amazing ship. I am very grateful to NAGT and USGS for allowing me to participate, and to my advisor, Dr. Amanda Demopoulos, for bringing me along. I would also like to thank FalcoLucky Dragon has definitely been on this journey with us.

A perfect way to end the cruise.

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