Last night we listened for sperm whales along the western side of De Soto
Canyon, around the apex on at about the 700-1000m isobaths, and along the
eastern side.  No whales were heard.  Today we monitored for whales as we
transited across the canyon, both acoustically and, when weather allowed,
visually.  No whales were seen or heard.  At 1830 we have just finished our
transit across De Soto Canyon.  We are at about 29 27'N, 87 40'W, and are
headed into Pascagoula, MS.   We have started to pack up our gear.

Tropical Storm Claudette has stirred up the seas over in the western Gulf so
we cannot make it to Galveston by sea on July 16.  Travel plans have been
rearranged, with many flying from New Orleans and others from Houston.
Ground transportation has been arranged to get folks to their airports or to
Galveston and then home.  We should arrive in Pascagoula early tomorrow
morning, with travel to New Orleans by early afternoon and to
Houston/Galveston by late evening on July 14.

This is the final daily report for the 2003 SWSS Stag cruise.  A great time
was had by all.
Ann

At 2030 CDT we are at 29 14'N, 87 52'W, heading northeast.  Today we
observed a few sperm whales, but none were tagged.  A thunderstorm caused us
to bring in the boats around mid-afternoon and the seas did not calm down
enough to do small boat work during the remaining daylight.  We are
monitoring for whales acoustically.  Our plan is move from the west to the
east side of De Soto Canyon.  We plan to continue northeast to about 29
22'N, 87 28'W, which will take us through an area where GYRE Leg 1 observed
whales.  Then we will head for 29 13'N, 87 11'W, where a whale was tagged
last year.  Then we will turn south to 28 45'N, 87 11'W, which will take us
through an area where GYRE Leg 1 also observed whales.  Our plans after that
will depend on the progress of Tropical Storm Claudette.
Ann

During the night we transited past Mars and Ursa platforms, but no sperm
whales were heard.  We then headed northeast toward Pompano platform, but at
dawn heard whales.  We spent the day tracking whales acoustically and
visually.  Groups of 3-5 animals were seen or heard throughout the day.
Four whales were tagged; three biopsy samples and one sloughed skin sample
were obtained.  During the transit, XBTs were taken every 10 nm.  The
fluorometer malfunctioned during the night, but was repaired during the day
and now is operational again.

At 2150 CDT we are at approximately 28 53'N, 88 40'W, and heading
approximately northeast toward Pompano platform near 29N, 88W.  Our plan for
the night is to monitor for sperm whales acoustically as we transit an area
with a number of platforms. If 4-5 or more whales are heard, they will be
tracked.  Our easternmost way point for tonight or tomorrow is near 29 15'N,
87 30'W.  Since the Tropical Storm has weakened, we should have at least two
more days of work if we stay in the east; hopes are that we will be able to
ride GYRE all the way back into Galveston to arrive on July 16.
Ann

We transited to Mississippi Canyon during the night, but whales were not
heard until near daybreak.  One whale, which had been tagged but not
biopsied earlier in the cruise farther to the east, was biopsied.  The few
sperm whales seen or heard were dispersed.  Although seas were the calmest
they have been during the cruise, no whales were tagged. We ended the day
near the Medusa Spar platform on the east side of the canyon.  We had been
without whales for much of the day.  Both small boats experienced minor
engine problems that caused us to bring them on board, at separate times,
for repairs.  Pilot whales were abundant in the early morning and pigmy
sperm whales were sighted in the late afternoon.  Between tonight and
Saturday, we plan to do an acoustical and, during daylight, visual survey
near platforms from 28N, 89 30'W to the northeast. If sperm whales are
encountered during daylight hours, we will work on tagging and biopsy
efforts.  On Saturday morning we expect to be near the Neptune platform
off-shelf south of Mobile.  We will be in a good position to transit into a
safe harbor if necessary due to inclement weather that might be generated by
Tropical Storm Claudette.
Ann

At 2220 CDT we are at approximately 28 21'N, 89 3'W and heading toward
Mississippi Canyon in a zig-zag pattern. XBT profiles were taken during the
night as we transited within an area bounded between approximately 89 to 89
6'W and 28 40' to 28 17'N.  Acoustics listened for and identified the places
where sperm whales were present. In the morning, we revisited those
locations.  We tagged two sperm whales today.  Three biopsy samples were
obtained; one each from the whales that were tagged and one from a whale
that had been tagged last year. Tonight acoustics will monitor for sperm
whale locations as we transit to the west side of Mississippi Canyon through
a region with historical and Stag whale sightings.
Ann

At 2000 CDT we are at approximately 28 38'N, 88 51'W.  The RHIBs have just
been brought on board and the sun is setting. Weather was fine all day, but
choppy seas delayed launch of the RHIBs until after 1000 CDT.  We worked
with whales in the vicinity all day.  There were several groups of 2-3
animals each.  One whale was tagged.  Biopsy samples were obtained from two
animals:  one that had been tagged earlier on this cruise and one that had
been tagged on last year's cruise.

Our two ADCPs have been operational throughout the cruise.  We have been
collecting salinity, temperature, and fluorescence continuously from about
3.5 m depth during the cruise.  We also are collecting and analyzing
chlorophyll samples from every XBT and CTD station, as well as every 4 hours
when we are not in survey mode.  We have taken 5 CTD stations, 4 in blue
water and one in green water, and 23 XBT stations, most in blue water.
There is no sign of the green water - blue water front that was in this area
over the fourth of July.  The recent sea surface height image received from
shore today suggests the Loop Current eddy is now farther south than it was
during the first GYRE leg.

All teams continue to work well together.  Acoustics and visual teams are
well coordinated and provide good and timely location data to the tag and
photo teams. Both RHIBs are operating well.
Ann

We arrived off shelf of the Mississippi River at about 0600 this morning.
Acoustics and visual observations were made of several groups of sperm
whales.  The small boats were launched.  A group of whales consisting of
three individuals was tracked and one whale was tagged.  One whale that had
been tagged last year was observed and a biopsy was taken, enabling the sex
of this animal to now be determined. This was an important event because
this was the only individual in a group of several other whales for which no
biopsy had been taken.  The other groups that had been observed early this
morning had dispersed out of acoustic range and were not recovered.  A
thunderstorm brought the boats in early.  A second trip out was short--due
again to thunderstorms.  We were in blue water all day; this was in an area
which had both blue and green water zones when we were here over last
weekend. Last week was the anniversary of the tagging of three whales whose
tags have transmitted for one year.  Our group cheered this major
contribution toward understanding sperm whales in the Gulf of Mexico.  It is
now 2140 local time on 7 July and we are at approximately 28 40'N, 88 52'W.
Our plan is to stay in this area during the night, with acoustics monitoring
a track around the area to determine where whales are most abundant for
tomorrow's work.
Ann

After taking five XBTs (one every 10 nm) while we transited to the east
during the night, we arrived at our way point of 29 2.6'N, 87 40.8'W, at
about 0600 local time.  We took a CTD profile, which showed low salinity
water of ~29 in the upper 20 m and which had a salinity maximum at ~100 m of
36.5.  We then deployed the hydrophone arrays. No whales were heard or
observed until about 1130CDT.  The RHIBs were both deployed, but the whales
remained too far away for tagging and the seas were choppy.  The RHIBs were
brought on board so we could move NW while searching for whales.  About two
hours before sunset, whales were seen and heard. The RHIBs were deployed.  A
group of three whales were encountered, one of which was tagged.  A biopsy
sample also was collected.  Tonight we will run back toward 28 35.85'N 88
59.49'W where whales have been observed in greater abundance.  The
hydrophone arrays will be deployed and acoustics will monitor several way
points to determine whether there is an abundance of whales at any of those
points. If not, we should arrive at our scheduled way point about 0600 CDT
on July 7.
Ann

At 2330 CDT we are at 28 44'N, 88 45'W. We spent today within about 10 nm of
this position. Three sperm whales were tagged with two biopsy samples.
There was again a very clear line between "blue" and "green" water.  We just
completed a CTD at our present position.  This location had been in "green"
water at approximately 2000 CDT, but now is "blue" water.  We will steam all
night to the northeast until we reach our easternmost position at 29 2.6'N,
87 40.8'W, and then we will work our way back to the west.
Ann

Mother nature provided us with some fireworks off in the distance  this 4th
of July morning as scattered showers and thunderstorms were in the area
where we wanted to work.  After lunch the storms passed, so we launched both
small boats.  Acoustics and visual observations were made, but the winds
came up and with them came small white caps that made finding whales
difficult.  Several whales were spotted, but none were tagged. We crossed
over the line between Eddy Sargassum and the Mississippi River plume several
times.  The line between "green" plume water and "blue" eddy water was very
clear and extended as far as I could see in either direction.  Tonight we
will cover a region just to the east of our present position, which at 2130
CDT is 28 41'N, 88 49'W.   We will conduct an acoustic survey during the
night to assess where whales might best be found in the morning.
Ann

We arrived at our way point of 28 40'N, 89 00'W, at about 07:15 CDT.  We
deployed an XBT and CTD.  Then we launched the two RHIBs because sperm
whales were sighted.  The hydrophone arrays were deployed last.  Around
lunch time, a thunderstorm came through the area, so both RHIBs and their
personnel were brought back on board GYRE.  In late afternoon, the weather
cleared and the RHIBs were launched.  Three whales were tagged, two biopsy
samples were taken, and one set of photo-ID images were made.  The RHIBs
were brought back on board at about 19:30 CDT.  Acoustics will follow sperm
whales during the night, and we anticipate staying in this area for another
day.
Ann

Today we have been transitting across the shelf toward our way point. At
2035 CDT we are at 28 36'N, 90 43'W.  We changed our target way point to 28
40'N, 89 00'W, to reach the region off-shelf of  the Mississippi River where
sperm whales were present on the early 2003 SWSS cruises and some s-tagged
whales have recently been located.  We expect to reach this region around
0600 CDT on July 3.  We will take a CTD and then deploy the hydrophone
arrays and visual team to begin our search.
Ann

We spent the day testing the R2 and OSU tag boats, directional hydrophones
and communications equipment.  We left Galveston around 1800 CDT this
evening and are headed toward 27 50.88'N, 89 48.11'W where we will resume
our search for sperm whales. At 2100 CTD we are at 29 15'N, 94 23'W. We will
be in transit all day tomorrow.
Ann

We arrived safely in Galveston and tied up at the dock about 1530 CDT.  We
are using the time to check out the small boat operations, add enhancements
to the R2 launch system, and pick up a few electronic and other items to
enhance computer usage and communications.  Our estimated time of departure
tomorrow is approximately at noon local time.
Ann

The hydrophone arrays were deployed and monitored all night and today until
1630 local time.  The sperm whales that were being tracked acoustically last
night were lost during the night.  No sperm whales were observed today,
either acoustically or visually, although several groups of dolphins were
seen and heard. After the hydrophone array was brought in, we took a CTD at
26 57.7'N, 92 48.1'W. Four XBTs were taken and chlorophyll samples drawn. At
1830CDT we are at 27 1.1'N, 92 49.8'W. Due to Tropical Storm Bill, which is
south and a bit east of us, we now are headed back to Galveston to wait out
the storm.  Everything has been battened down and secured for our run to
safe harbor.
Ann

Seas were calm all day and sailing was smooth.  The hydrophone arrays were
deployed about 1000 local time as we neared our way point at 27 30'N, 92
50'W. The visual teams began observations. Two sperm whales were observed
near 1930 CDT, first acoustically then visually at approximately 27 06'N, 92
40'W.  However it was too late in the day to launch small boats, so we will
try to stay with the whales acoustically during the night. At 2116, we are
still with whales near the location of the visual sighting.  Both the visual
and acoustic teams are well coordinated and working well.  Three XBTs were
dropped  and chlorophyll samples taken.  Temperature, salinity, and
fluorescence from ~3.5m depth were logged continuously , as were
measurements from both the 150kHz and 38 kHz ADCPs.  All systems and
personnel are working well.
Ann

At 2030 CDT, we are located at 29 8.5', 94 17.3'W. Seas are calm and sailing
is smooth.  We arrived Galveston about 1230 local time.  Engine repairs were
completed successfully, and we headed back to sea around 1600.   Weather in
the east, off the Mississippi River region, is forecasted to be too poor for
small boat operations over the weekend.  So, we are heading for 27 30'N, 92
50'W.  This is a region where some sperm whales were observed on the GYRE
Leg 1 and where historical and satellite tags suggest whales may be present.
We expect to begin hydrophone array deployments about 1000 CDT tomorrow.
Ann

Subject: GYRE report for June 26
   Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2003 21:59:15 -0500
  From:  Sea-Mail

The visual, acoustic, and photo-ID teams prepared their equipment and
protocols.  The hydrophone arrays were deployed and tested.  All systems are
working well.  We had a meeting on small boat deployment and safety.  The
ADCP, thermosalinograph, and fluorescence instrumentation collected data
continuously.  When we reached 27 20'N, 93 55'W, we brought in the
hydrophone arrays and collected a chlorophyll sample.  At 0033 UTC, we
deployed the SeaCat profiler to 800m at 27 18.5'N, 93 54.3'W.  Due to engine
trouble that could not be repaired at sea, after the SeaCat was recovered,
we turned and now are headed back to Galveston. After repairs are made, we
will run to the region near the Mississippi River Canyon and Delta to begin
Stag activities.
Ann

We left the dock at 2300 last night after holding a safety meeting, fire
drill, and science meeting.   At 1000 CDT we are at 28 15'N 94 14'W.  We
have 1' seas with 2' swell and winds about 8 kts.  We are heading southward
from Galveston toward 27 20'N, 93 55'W where we plan to take a CTD and
deploy hydrophones this evening. We hope to launch boat later today even w/o
whales just to exercise the team in the launch process. The day will be
spent getting the teams coordinated and familiar with the ships, equipment,
and procedures.  There are 8-11 foot waves east of 90W so we will stay west
for a while until that lays down.
Ann