Study in Svalbard: CRUISE OFF THE COAST

The research vessel Gunnerus working off Frøya.

Picture of the week: The noon sun was a welcomed dose of vitamin D.

Usually when I say cruise, most people think of all-you-can-eat buffets, shows, casinos, ports of call and shopping. Research “cruises” are quite different sans the all-you-can-eat. Early Monday, we were driven to the Trondheim Biological Station to finalize the cargo and meet the research vessel Gunnerus, named after the 1700’s Norwegian bishop and botanist Johan Ernst Gunnerus. We then sailed west to the opening of the Trondheimsfjord to the island of Frøya, where we were to conduct our work. The cruise was organized by the Applied Underwater Robotics Laboratory at the Norwegian Science and Technology University (NTNU) with the primary goal of joint underwater operations between the ship, a tethered remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). There were 3 professors on board, 2 technicians, a couple visitors, 4 crew, and 6 students from NTNU specializing in control theory, engineering, archeology and biology. My responsibility was to operate the now repaired REMUS, work with students, and for a larger perspective to demonstrate the use of these systems and combinations of systems for eventual use in the Arctic.

Ian Robbins from Cal Poly joined me to help with the REMUS. Here is is coming back from deploying the acoustic navigation network.

The ROV pilots run a program that automates the piloting process.

Deploying NTNU's ROV.

It took the afternoon to arrive at Frøya and we started by putting out the acoustic network that we would use for the AUV underwater navigation. Within 2 hours of arriving the winds had risen to 70 km/hr with seas about 3 meters… not great working conditions. Given the weather and that there is only light from 9 till 3, we chose not to continue the planned multibeam acoustic survey (an instrument that maps the bottom depth in high resolution) and ran to port. We spent the rest of the day working on setting up the systems and joint discussions on how to best integrate the data once collected. We also looked at the forecast for the week and the wind direction and intensity forced us to look at a protected area on the north side of the island.

Arriving at the ship for breakfast.

Example of data collected showing the topography of the sea floor with an acoustic picture of the bottom taken by the REMUS.

The area proved to be an excellent site to conduct our work and for the next three days conducted combined multibeam, ROV and AUV operations. We stayed in a dorm-room style pension during the nights in Neset and twice went to Sistranda for a beer after the day. The skies were clear and the temperature mild (about 4-6 degrees) for the rest of the week. Instead of taking the boat back on Friday, I drove with the two other professors back to Trondheim to meet the family that had flown in the night before.

The three professors on their way back to Trondheim.

Fjord at sunset.

It was great to see Nicole and the boys on Friday and we had a nice pizza dinner near the Nedelva river. Yesterday, we went to the science museum and had a really great time with all the hands on displays. We then stopped at the Nidaros Cathedral built in 1070. Amazing building with ornate carvings, organs, and stained glass windows. Although there was resistance to go from the boys, once there, they were occupied for at least a few minutes. We then had a great lunch at the Tyholt tower overlooking the city for the sunset. We then had some time at the hotel before heading to the Johnsen’s for a spectacular traditional cod dinner called Bacalau. It was a late night, so we slept in today before going back to the Johnsen’s for some relaxation. Jason, Geir and I cut a small tree down on the hill behind their house to take to Longyearbyen, had a short meal. Geir and I worked at the biological station while Nicole and Hilda went out for sushi and a Christmas choir concert at the Nidaros Cathedral. The boys are enjoying movies and Christmas cookies I’m sure.