The Monkey Nest

View back towards the ship from the monkey nest.  The port-side total irradiance meter is in the foreground (the white disk).  The PAR sensor (photosynthetically active radiation) is just behind it.

Written by Lola, Neela and Eleanor...

Ben and Gerard enjoying the sun.

Today is day four of JC103.  We've been busy setting up the data processing streams and getting ready for the moorings work which starts on the 29th.  One of the things we had to do was to climb up to the monkey nest to inspect the meterological equipment and take serial numbers from the instruments.  This is standard practice on any research vessel, to make sure we know what equipment we're using and how to best process it. 

The monkey nest is at the bow on the forecastle deck.  You can see it in the picture to the left.  To get there, we had to climb two little staircases, and go through a hatch in the roof.  This meant wearing boots and hardhats.  Your first impression when you get up there is not so comfortable--the rails tilt outwards and you're high above the deck, and the water below.   But the view is incredible.  You can see it in the top picture---water water all around.

Neela and Eleanor climbing to the monkey nest.

Lola and the bridge.

Besides light, we also measure winds, temperature, humidity and pressure.   It's been about 77.9% humidity, and 27 deg C.  The wind has been about 8 knots relative to the ship.  So basically, the weather has been amazing.  As you can see in the picture, the cloud cover today was minimal and you could see a good distance.  We passed between the Dominincan Republic and Puerto Rico through the Mono Passage, and overnight will cross the Puerto Rico Trench.  These will be the deepest waters we encounter on the trip. According to the "Atlas 2014" iPhone app, this includes the "Milwaukee deep" which is 8600 m deep, and the deepest part of the Atlantic.  

??? Does anyone know whether this is really called a monkey nest?  Add your thoughts below.