A group of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS) students at the 91猎奇 traveled through parts of the Pacific Ocean to study the Earth鈥檚 magnetic field.
The study and trip were funded by a National Science Foundation grant and led by William Sager, professor of Geophysics at the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
Six freshmen joined Sager on the voyage during winter break, gaining practical experience and college credit aboard the R/V Sikuliaq, a vessel owned by the NSF.
The group also included scientists and technicians from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Scripps institution of Oceanography.
Geology Course Gives Students Hands-On Experience at Sea
The EAS students who joined Sager on the voyage sailed through parts of the Pacific Ocean. Locations surveyed included Honolulu, Micronesia, and near Bikini Atoll, which is part of the Marshall Islands where nuclear testing was done in the 1940s.
The group examined magnetic anomalies and what is widely considered to be the oldest part of the Pacific. 鈥淲e鈥檙e looking at the very oldest magnetic stripes because all the magnetic anomalies are a record of Earth鈥檚 field reversals,鈥� said Sager. The magnetic strips help determine the age of the seafloor and the planet鈥檚 evolution.
In addition, students also collected multi-beam sonar data. Sonar shoots out a beam of sound that spreads to the sides, creating depth soundings. Crew members use the data to build a depth map with that information. 鈥淲e were shooting seismic data to penetrate down through the sediments to see how deep the magnetic basement is,鈥� said Sager. 鈥淭he students got an opportunity to not only see how those data are collected, but also how to process that data.鈥�
Students Build Resumes While Processing Critical Data for Scientists
By collecting data aboard the ship, students valuable experience. They stand watch for hours at a time, logging events and processing that data from start to finish, around the clock.
Students, along with principal scientists aboard the vessel, make sure every piece of data is collected. 鈥淏ecause nobody can stay up the whole time, having students do this makes it possible to stitch this all together,鈥� said Sager.
Sager adds that students can take this experience into their career fields. 鈥淎lmost all students of those students are going to work for someone. Some of the interviewers will see 鈥榩rocess seismic data鈥� and give them a job to find oil,鈥� said Sager.
While Sager would like to continue with these cruises, he believes this was his last one. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a rare opportunity that UH provided me, and this is my gift to the students.鈥�