Today the Aegaeo’s CTD sat idle on the deck (see below for an in-action photo) as our focus was on one of Jeddah’s ‘lagoons’ and the work was done entirely from the open, but confined, space of the Aegaeo’s zodiac.  

The Aegaeo’s CTD being lowered into the Red Sea waters north of Yanbu.  The CTD provides measurements of various properties (including temperature, salinity, oxygen and chlorophyll concentrations, pH and turbidity) throughout the water column.

The sampling began with a CTD survey (using a portable CTD) of Jeddah’s Arbaeen (40^th in English) Lagoon.  Complicating the work was the lagoon’s proximity to several sensitive sites, including a Coast Guard base and training academy.  Issues with our working in the area were resolved though zodiac-to-dock conversations with personnel from the Saudi Coast Guard, who proved to be both courteous and professional. 

Looking forward to the lagoon.  Taha Boksmati (NCEC) together with (left to right) Vassilis Stasinos, Vassilis Bampas and Xaris Kontoyiannis (all of HCMR) in the Aegaeo’s zodiac en route to a CTD survey of the lagoon.  The Aegaeo’s portable CTD is positioned to Taha’s right.  Jim Churchill (PM) is seated in the bow with phone in the camera mode. 

The CTD data offered guidance in selecting the sites from which to acquire water and sediment samples.  This subsequent sampling required a number of zodiac trips, the last of which concluded at about 7 PM. 

Returning with water samples.  Vassilis Bampas, Kostas Parinos, Theodoros Zoulias (all from HCMR) and Hammad Al Sulami (NCEC) approaching the Aegaeo with a full cargo of water samples (in the ‘Niskin’ bottles between Kostas and Theodoros) collected from the lagoon.

The day ended with fond (but temporary) farewell to the NCEC party (Taha Boksmati, Ahmed Al Harbi and Hammad Al Sulami) and PM Jim Churchill.  Taha and Jim (and perhaps Ahmed and Hammad) will rejoin the Aegaeo at its KAUST stop, scheduled for the 24^th.