Behind the Scenes Aboard Oceanus

Putting Ocean Robots to the Test

Berkeley researchers embarked on a 10-day voyage aboard research vessel Oceanus to put their Carbon Flux Explorer robots to the test. The project, funded by the National Science Foundation, will shed light on how microscopic organisms process ocean carbon. The following photos provide a window into the work it takes to get the robotic floats into the water - and back again.
Work on the Carbon Flux Explorers reached a feverish pitch weeks before departure. Todd Wood, Hannah Bourne, and Tim Loew (l-r) worked around the clock to finalize the sample collection system of the latest robotic ocean float, the Carbon Flux Explorer-Calibration, or CFE-Cal. (Credit: Jim Bishop)
Closeup of CFE-Cal's collection tray, which is designed to direct seawater samples containing "plankton poop" into small bottles. Researchers will analyze the samples and compare the results with the ocean robots' optical data. (Credit: Jim Bishop)
The Carbon Flux Explorers need to go through ballast testing in pressurized water tanks at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography before they are launched into the ocean. Here, Scripps engineer Michael McClune looks at data from the tests hours before the ship's scheduled departure. (Credit: Jim Bishop)
The research vessel Oceanus in San Diego, awaiting our arrival. (Credit: Jim Bishop)
Much of the scientific equipment was transported from Berkeley and Santa Cruz down to San Diego to be loaded onto the Oceanus. (Credit: Jim Bishop)
Phoebe Lam, Jong-Mi Lee and Yang Xiang (l-r) from UC Santa Cruz set up the "Bubble" on board the Oceanus. The Bubble keeps particles from contaminating the samples collected by the pumps. (Credit: Jim Bishop)
The Carbon Flux Explorers are securely tied, ready for their boat ride. (Credit: Jim Bishop)
Phoebe Lam stands in her red "Gumby" survival suit. Before the ship departs, all passengers must go through a drill that includes putting on awkward, but life-saving, emergency gear. (Credit: Sarah Yang)
The Oceanus, seen here at the Santa Cruz Basin near the Channel Islands. This shot was taken by a drone operated by the ship's chief engineer. (Credit: Mark Booher)
Work on the Carbon Flux Explorers continued on board the ship. Berkeley Lab’s Alex Morales makes adjustments to the cross-polarizing lens assembly for CFE-Cal. (Credit: Sarah Yang)
At long last, the time to launch the Carbon Flux Explorer-Calibrate (CFE-Cal) has come. The researchers prepare to move the robot to the deck for deployment. (Credit: William Kumler)
CFE-Cal, the ocean robot that is central to our time on the Oceanus, captured seconds before it is dropped into the Santa Cruz Basin. (Credit: Jessica Kendall-Bar)
Once the Carbon Flux Explorers hit the ocean, it takes another 20-30 minutes before it “wakes up” and sinks below the water’s surface. (Credit: Jessica Kendall-Bar)
As many eyes as possible are trained onto the recently launched Carbon Flux Explorer, waiting for the robot to sink and begin its underwater mission. The robots were programmed to remain in the water for about 24 hours before resurfacing for recovery. (Credit: Sarah Yang)
A rare view of the main lab area without the Carbon Flux Explorers. All the robotic floats had been deployed. (Credit: Sarah Yang)
The deck was active throughout the trip with the deployment of instruments other than the Carbon Flux Explorers. Here, UC Berkeley students William Kumler and Jessica Kendall-Bar help launch the Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth (CTD) Rosette, which housed numerous sensors and water sample canisters. (Credit: Sarah Yang)
Jim Bishop monitors multiple displays that provide data on the CTD and the numerous sensors it carries. From here he communicates with the winch operator on deck, giving instructions on depth and speed of deployment. (Credit: Sarah Yang)
Phoebe Lam and her team from UC Santa Cruz launch in-situ pumps, instruments that sample large quantities of seawater for suspended and dissolved particles. (Credit: Sarah Yang)
Mike Stukel of Florida State University prepares for a plankton tow. A large net is dragged alongside the boat to catch the zooplankton that come up to feed at night. (Credit: Sarah Yang)
After samples are collected, they are processed in the ship’s lab area. Mike Stukel examines the specimens he obtained from one of his deployments. (Credit: Sarah Yang)
There were moments when it was time to stop and watch the sunset, like this one seen from the stern of the Oceanus. (Credit: Sarah Yang)
Just beneath the water's surface, a bed of kelp provides a hangout for some blue fish. (Credit: Jessica Kendall-Bar)
The crew of the Oceanus provided off hours support as well. Here, after a particularly long day, assistant engineer Chip Millard (in the back with baseball cap) and chief mate Jim Moore (wearing a red t-shirt) give tips to UC Berkeley student YiZhuang Liu. When chief scientist Jim Bishop joined in, we got an impromptu jam session. (Credit: Sarah Yang)
UC Berkeley student Jessica Kendall-Bar gets her dinner. A cook and an assistant kept the crew and research team very well fed. The mess hall was also well-stocked with snacks and freshly baked goods. (Credit: Sarah Yang)
After a full day out at sea, sinking and rising to various depths to collect data about the biological carbon pump, the Carbon Flux Explorer signaled that its mission was complete. The researchers followed the signal and successfully plucked the robot from the ocean. (Credit: Sarah Yang)
Back on deck, this Carbon Flux Explorer gets showered with distilled water to rinse off salt water before being put away. This process was repeated for multiple deployments during the trip. (Credit: Sarah Yang)
Once all instruments were recovered, it was time to pack up the gear and head home. Here the crates full of gear can be seen strapped to the deck as the Oceanus heads to San Francisco. (Credit: Jim Bishop)
After 10 days at sea, the Oceanus pulls into San Francisco, passing under both the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge. (Credit: Kelly J. Owen)
Martech Steve Lambert tosses a heaving line as the Oceanus docks in San Francisco. (Credit: Kelly J. Owen)
Jim Bishop and his team, marking the end of the research voyage aboard the Oceanus. Work begins now to analyze the data collected by the various instruments on board, including, of course, the Carbon Flux Explorers. (Credit: Kelly J. Owen)

Carbon Flux Explorers, Explained

Berkeley scientist Jim Bishop explains how the new Carbon Flux Explorer works. (Video edited by Roxanne Makasdjian and Stephen McNally/UC Berkeley. Video shot by Jessica Kendall-Bar. Drone footage provided by Mark Booher.)

Getting the Main Lab Ready to Roll

Three hours of setting up the main lab condensed into 12 seconds. Notice the big plastic “bubble”, the large laminar flow bench used to filter seawater samples. (Credit: Jessica Kendall-Bar)