Last 8 days of science

We are now leaving the large phytoplankton bloom behind, after five days of intense long duration station (LD) sampling. Today the scientists responsible for measuring physical and optical parameters are fully occupied, but again, not so much for us biologists.

Before heading out on the desert-like waters between Niue and Tahiti we have to get into port of the small island nation of Niue to drop off one of the crew who previosuly injured his knee on board. Apparently he has been coping with his injured knee for some time, but now it has reached a point where he is forced to seek medical attention back in France.
I feel genuinely sorry for him. It must be a horrible situation to find yourself in, and also knowing that this sidetrack will cost the cruise at least 24 hours (for the neat cost of some 60 000 SEK/day).

Although we are leaving these chlorophyll rich waters behind, it is not a different picture that meets the eye when looking out over the horizon. The ocean looks just as azure (or blue) as before, effectively masking the secrets we are here to uncover.
I previously mentioned that the satellite imagery of or next target waters is a cold dark blue color, the color of nothing out on the oceans. A watery dessert. This is not the whole picture though as the satellite can only pierce so far into the water column. I'm looking forward to sampling the first depth profile at our next short duration station (SD). Who knows what we will find further down the photic zone (the upper most layer of the ocean where enough light penetrates for photosynthesis to occur).

The cruise is far from over work-wise although only some two weeks out at sea remain, but when it comes to doing science (sampling and lab work) we only have eight more days (three SD and five days of the final LD). We will then have a short transit of a day or so into Papeete harbour, arriving on the 2nd of April. Once back on land there will be an intense period of packing and shipping everything back to Sweden. Hopefully it will be a smooth process.