Bay of Bengal, TN445, June-August 2025, part 2

By William Ostergaard

Post #2

My life aboard the Thompson quickly fell into a rhythm, though the days blurred together more than I had anticipated. During the four day transit, we spent our time getting ready for experiments, playing Uno, or watching movies in the lounge during free time. We had some weather delays when we arrived at the station, which meant the sea was too rough for an overboard CTD deployment. Then things got exciting: the chief scientist walked in and announced that the weather had suddenly cleared… operations were starting!

This cruise had a unique schedule where we had three short stations in a row, then a two-week long station for nitrogen incubation experiments. After, the plan was three more short stations, another long station, and then four more short stations before transiting back to Thailand.

The first five stations are in the Bangladeshi EEZ, and the rest are in international waters. The short stations CTD deployments were conducted intermittently due to occasional weather delays, but generally, we collected water every 12 hours. Due to the nature of the nutrients I am studying, three out of four of them must be analyzed immediately. During the short stations, this meant very little sleep and nonstop analysis! Despite all this, I truly love everything about it: the nonstop chemical experiments, professional camaraderie, never knowing what we might spot out the porthole, and just shipboard life in general. When we got to the long station, I took a brief – but much needed – break, catching up on sleep, and cleaning the hundreds of dirty vials from the short stations. The weather finally calmed down, so I spent some time outside, stargazing and watching vibrant sunsets over flat seas. Wildlife, including dolphins, mahi-mahi, flying fish, and sea snakes, swam around the Thompson (with the flying fish occasionally landing on deck!). The 14 days at this station flew by, and suddenly I was thrust back into the frenetic alacrity of the short stations. 26 hours later, I finished with the analysis for two-thirds of these stations before crashing for a five hour sleep and then getting up and finishing the science.

I have had the opportunity to meet dozens of scientists from around the world, discussing experiments, life, and academia over delicious meals prepared by the ship’s incredible cook. This experience aboard the R/V Thompson has irrevocably sealed my fate: I am becoming a chemical oceanographer, drawn to the mysteries and discoveries that lie beneath the waves.