Sediment Traps Adrift

Published on: Author: cswauthor

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Sediment traps catch sinking matter in the ocean. Yesterday I deployed a drifting NetTrap close by Cherry Bank. NetTraps are very large, which allows them to collect a lot of material in a short time period.  We left the sediment trap floating in the ocean for 24 hours while we mapped Cherry Bank. Then today we had to find it again.  There was a satellite transmitter on the buoy, but the satellite only passes over once a day. We used the satellite reading to get a general idea of its location. Then when we were close, the ship used radar to identify some potential objects. Wendi finally found the sediment trap with binoculars from the bridge. When we found the trap, we had to grab it with a hook, attach it to a line and pull it onto the ship (see photo).  It all went smoothly, and I got a great sample!

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Posted by Clara