Oceanography Group Amongst Giant Pencils
Strong Winds
Suitable conditions for a wind farmI returned from a week long field trip in Albany a week ago. Learnt, field techniques in particular to do with physical oceanography, deploying drifters, collecting water samples and analysing samples, CTD drops, using the ADCP (acoustic dopler current profiler) wave height to measure tides etc. Oyster Harbour was our study site in which we spent two days out in the field collecting data. The weather was a restriction which meant less days out collecting data. However going through some data today made realise we are better off with less data because we have fair bit of data to sort and analyse. I am not looking forward to putting together the report that is worth 50%. The informal group talks was a great way to learn what the other group projects were and techniques they used to collect their data.
I managed to get to know the SESE students a bit more and learnt to play VC (Vietnamese Cards), similar to Presidents but with more combination of moves and suites are accounted for. CUers have been dominating the Village Cafe at uni playing cards and it's another reminder how effective cards can entertain people who may not be the best of friends but connected in some way or another.
We saw giant pencils, had close encounters with pelicans, visited the wind farm, blowhole and the gap. The winds are incredibly strong in Albany however the temperature never reached extreme lows or highs. The Albany Port view was spectacular at Camp Quaranup (where we stayed).
A fair few were sick and I caught the bug as soon as I returned back to Perth. The trend went something like this, fever->sore throat->flemmy throat->coughing up flem->blowing nose. No rest gives the bugs opportunity to attack. I'm on the road to recovery and had a very quiet weekend which was quite the contrary to the weekend when returning from Albany.
In all, the field trip was worth the $200 as I absorbed a bit of everything, from educational, listening to talks, site seeing, interacting with people and captured some nice shots. God has been gracious to ensure our safety during the entire ordeal.
My stealth got me within 1m of these massive pelicans
One of the Great Views at Camp Quaranup