NEWSLETTER WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION MARCH 1995

Ketchum Award to be Presented Women Pioneers in - April 13

The ninth B.H . Ketchum Award lecture will be presented by Christopher Martens of the Univer­ sity of North Carolina IUNC) at Chapel Hill April 13 at 2:30 p.m. in Redfield Auditorium. A reception will follow. Martens, a professor of marine sdences and geology at UNC, will speak on "IliogeocherrO Processes Controlling the Chemistry of Coastal sediments." He is considered one of the leading chemical oceanographers investigating the bi0- geochemical recycling of carbon in ooastaI systems. A colleague notes that his largest scientifIC contribution has been the nearty twenty-year record of biogeochemical measurements carried out at Cape Lookout Bight, perhaps the longest time series of such measurements in existence. "Chris has pioneered many of the measurements used in his studies, and certainly is a leader in using a multiparameterJmultiproxy approach and in the Women 's CommiNee Chair Chris Wooding (left) introduces Betty integration of biogeochemical measurements." Bunce. Bunce received a WHOI rocking chair. Continued on page 8 Belly Bunce Honored Ruttenberg Receives ONR Honor Scientist Emeritus Betty Bunce was honored March 1 at the Assistant Scientist Kathleen Ruttenberg of the second "Women Pioneers in Oceanography" seminar in celebra­ Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry Department tion of Women's History Month. The celebration is sponSOfed by has been selected as an Office of Naval Research the Women's Committee of WHOI. IONR) Young Investigator. Speakers included Chris Wooding, Women's Committee Ruttenberg was one of 33 investigators selected Chair; Cecily Selby, WHOI Trustee; Deborah Smith, Associate for awards from a pool of 409 applicants who Scientist in the Geology and Geophysics Department; Scientist responded wnh research proposals to ONR. The Emeritus John Ewing of the Geology and Geophysics Depart­ Young Investigator program is designed "10 attract ment; Betty Ewing; and Director Bob Gagosian. outstanding university faculty members to the Deborah Smith highlighted Betty Bunce's career and her Navy's research program, to support their research, unusal entry into oceanography_ A physical education major and to encourage their teaching and research with an interest in government and constitutional law, Betty careers." Awards of $75,000 per year for three Bunce received her B.S. degree from Smith College in 1937. years are given to each recipient. Her love of sports led to graduate work in physical education and In a letter to Oirector Bob Gagosian announcing a position as a physical education teacher. Her contact with the award, Chief of Naval Research Marc Pelaez WHOI came through a chance 1944 summer vacation to Woods cited Ruttenberg's academic aChievements, her

Continued on page 4 Continued on page 2

MARCH 1995 WHOI Graduate Aboard Space Lt. Col. Sherwood Spring and Major Jerry Ross, visited the Institution in Shuttle Endeavour November 1986 to present a memento to the staff. Kathryn D. Sullivan, the first woman to walk in space, visited the The recent Space Shuttle Endeavour Oceanographic Institution in April 1984 10 talk with graduate students mission had a WHOI connection through and staff. While a graduate student in geology in 1974 Sullivan worked Astronaut Wendy B. Lawrence, a 1988 gradu­ with WHOI scientists and made a cruise to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge ate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technol­ aboard the Institution's Research Vessel Knorr. She is now the Chief ogyfWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution Scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Joint Graduate Program in Oceanography and Sullivan is scheduled to visit WHOI again in June to speak with gradu­ Oceanographic Engineering. One of the small ate students. mementos she was to bring with her into space Other astronauts have also worked with WHOI staff on oceanogra­ was a WHOI patch. phy-related projects from space. NASA'S Space Shuttles have all taken Lawrence received a Master of Science their names from famous oceanographic of discovery. degree in oceanographic engineering from the Bill Curry Named New G&G Chair joint program. She began her graduate studies in Woods Hole in June 1986 and left shortly Senior Scientist William B. Curry has after receiving her degree in September 1988. been named the new chair of the A 1981 graduate of the United States Naval Geology and Geophysics Department. Academy with a B.S. degree in engi­ effective November 1. neering, lawrence returned to Annapolis to Bill Curry received his B.S. degree in teach at the Naval Academy~ and was accepted geology from the University of Delaware into NASA's astronaut p!'ogram in 1992. in 1974 and his Ph.D. degree in geology The recent mission was Lawrence's first trip from Brown University in 1980. He in space. She served aboard Endeavour as a joined the WHOI staff as a postdoctoral mission specialist, trained to operate the investigator in February 1980 and was shuttle's robotic arm, and participated in appointed a postdoctoral scholar in April medical and other experiments. The shuttle of that year. In 1981 he was appointed landed in California March 18 after a record an assistant SCientist. was promoted to 1&-day mission. Lawrence plans to visit the associate scientist in 1985 and to senior Institution in the next few months. scientist in March 1994. Bill's research WHOI has other connections to the space interests include quantitative CenozoiC program. The Space Shuttle Atlantis, which paleoclimatology and paleoceanography, and the sedimentation made its first voyage in October 1985, is dynamics of marine particulates. named for the Institutk>n's first research vessel, Associate Director for Research Jim Luyten said Mike Purdy will the 142-foot ketch Atlantis. The shuttle carried step down as chair at the end of October Mafler four years of dedi­ a piece of the mast of the Institution's sailing cated service to the Department. Michael has done an outstanding vessel on its maiden voyage. Two of the job of providing leadership at the Institution and for the community." astronauts aboard that Atlantis shuttle mission, Ruttenberg continued from page 1 ability to contribute to the strength of the nation's R&D, and the commit­ ment to her expressed by university administrators. 'We believe that The Newsletter is published monthly for Young Investigators,like Dr. Ruttenberg, are the best and brightest employees, students and members of young academic researchers this country has to offer." the Woods Hole Oceanographic Ruttenberg joined the WHOI staff in 1989 as a postdoctoral fetlow. Institution community. Copy deadline is The following year she was named a postdoctoral investigator, and in the 25th of the month. Ideas for stones, 1993 was named a visiting investigator. She was appointed an assistant photos, and items of interest to the scientist in May 1994. community are welcome and should be A 1982 graduate of the University of California at San Diego with a sent to: Editor, Newsletter, News Office, B.A. degree in chemistry and anthropology (double major), Ruttenberg Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, received her Ph.D. in geology from Yale University in 1990. Her thesis Woods Hole, MA 02543. Telephone was titled MDiagenesis and Burial of Phosphorus in Marine Sediments: 50&457-2000 ext. 2270 or 3340. Implications for the Marine Phosphorus Budget." While at Yale she received the Estwing Hammer Prize for Outstanding Performance in WriterlEditor: Shelley M. Lauzon Geology and the Best Student Paper Award from the Estuarine Re­ Staff Support: Kathleen Patterson search Federation 10th Biennial Estuarine Research Conference.

2 WHOI NEWSlETIER MARCH t995 WHOl's Contributions to World War II would the be and at what distance from the beach? Editor's Note: As celebrations occur in Europe and the Pacific marking On the answers to these questions the 50th anniversary of the closing months of World War II, the depended the size of landing craft and the Institution's many contributions to the war effort come to mind. The technique of landing. And then came the following comments, from a newspaper article and the 1945 Annual question of prediction. At what time would Report, offer a brief glimpse of those days. surf conditions be most favorable for a landing at this specific point? ~Soldiers who went ashore through surf in North Africa , Sicily, Answers to all these problems were the Normandy, and various Pacific islands had, as one of their protec ~ proper field of the oceanographer, and it !ions, painstaking hours of research and prediction which gave their was to research institutions such as the commanders foreknowledge of wave conditions on the beaches," said Oceanographic that the Navy turned when, an April 12, 1946 Falmouth Enterprise article entitled "How Woods early in the war, responsibility for amphibi­ Hole Data Aided Assault Troops." ous landings was given to the admirals ... " "The Navy announces today that the Oceanographic Institution at The newspaper article goes on to Woods Hole was the source of some of the vital information upon discuss wave research at WHOI, develOJr which commanders of amphibious assaults based their schedules for ment of instruments for visual observations invasions. To those in charge of landing operations, some of the of wave characteristics, and weather most important questions concerned conditions of the water into forecasting. "Starting with much theory and which their troops would be landed. How strong was the surf? How some knowledge scientists had, during the high would waves be? How strong the ? How deep or shallow course of the war, progressed from the painstaking trial and error of visual obser­ vation and conclusion to a mechanized system for recording and evaluating their work with waves," the Falmouth Enterprise article noted. wSurf forecasts made possible the initial landing of General Patton's Seventh Army at Sicily in 1943. In the Normandy invasion advance knowledge of surf conditions increased the efficiency of unloading in the face of bad storm conditions ....Bomber pilots were trained to estimate the speed of a by the wave pattern it left behind. In air-sea rescue, accofding to Mr. Iselin (Columbus Iselin, then WHOt Director), the state of the sea at the scene of an accident can be determined and a decision as to rescue by plane or boat can be made .... " WHOl's Introduction to Naval Research: A Director's View World War II changed many aspects of the Institution's operations, including the publication of the Annual Report. Annual reports stopped in 1942, and a single edition appeared for the years 1943, 1944 and 1945. The introduction to that combined issue by Director Columbus 0'0. Iselin read in part: "This indicated that the volume of work being carried out under government contract was increasing rapidly and that many of the members of our staff had Research on underwater was a major effort at WHOt during World War II. Pictured here ;s work done from Atlantis. Continued on page 6

MARCH 1995 WHOI NEWSLETTER 3 Bunce Honored Continued from page , Hole to visit a friend working at the Institution. That led to a job in the underwater explosives research group at WHOI, known as Navy 7, which ended in 1946. Interested in the theory behind the work, Betty Bunce returned to Smith and received a master's degree in physics in 1949. spending summers at WHOI as a technician. She taught physics at Smith until 1951. leaving to join the WHOI staff full-time as a research associate in 1952. In 1963 she was appointed an associate scientist and was named a senior scientist in 1977. In 1980 she was appointed Scientist Emeritus, serving as Acting Chair of the Geology and Geophysics Department several times Betty Bunce enjoys a moment with Emerson Hiller (left) and an unidentified while a senior scientist and as a guest (right). scientist emeritus. "Betty was a jack of all trades, as many people were back then," Deborah Smith noted as she showed slides of Betty through the years and recalled some of her contributions to oceanog­ raphy. "She got the most out of every cruise" Smith also noted some of the many "firsts" Betty Bunce is assoc~ted with, including serving as the first American chosen as a chief scientist on a drilling cruise aboard Glomar Challenger, and the first woman to dive in Alvin (1965) . Long-time colleague John Ewing recalled that he and Betty never had the opportunity to sail together, and that although he was sorry he also knew she would have wanted to be the Speakers Ceci/y Selby (len), Deborah Smdh and John Ewing. Not pictured is boss. "It has been one whale of a nice Betty Ewing. Cecily Celby met Betty Bunce in the late 19405 through her time knowing Betty .. he added. "She husband, James "Spike" Coles, who called Betty "a very unique person." has had an extraordinary career. She's done a little bit of everything and she's that time we've been extremely Noting her role at home and Betty done it well. The best tribute I can give good friends. Whatever she does Bunce's at sea, Betty Ewing told the Betty is that one never needs to she attacks wholeheartedly, audience that Betty Bunce was also wonder what Betty has just said. She whether it is WHOI, Falmouth very loyal to her friends. "She is a world class straight talker." Hospital, West Falmouth Library or always treated me with respect and Betty Ewing recalled her first her friends. She has been ex­ courtesy , including me in the conver­ meeting with Betty Bunce at a 1947 tremely loyal to WHOI , but not sation and answering my questions. shower at which she met Betty Spari

4 WHOI NEWSLETTER MARCH 1995 her digs in!" Director Bob Gagosian shared a few items from her personnel file that illustrate Betty's penchant for organization and timeliness. He said she appeared to know from the very beginning that her relationship with WHOI would be a long one, and noted her ability to do many different things. ~She was the first woman scientist to go to sea routinely, and the first woman chief scientist to go to sea routinely." Bob Gagosian then announced that Betty Bunce will co-commission the Institution's new research vessel Atfantis later this year. "It's been quite a life," Betty Bunce told the audience. She recalled how she came to WHOI, noting that she applied for a job and was hired by Paul Fye and Norman Two Pioneers: Mary Sears (left) and Betty Bunce. Mary was honored in 1994 Allen even though she just wanted at the first "Women Pioneers in Oceanography" seminar. to see the buildings. "I broke every rule on how to conduct an interview. I said just what I thought. I made an impression on Paul Fye that lasted a long time. It has been a lot of fun."

Photos by Tom Kleindinst

Deborah Smith watches Betty Bunce's appearance on an early 1960s John Ewing: "Betty is a world class straight episode of "To Tell the Truth." Three of the four panelists did not select

talker. It Bunce as an oceanographer.

MARCH 1995 WHOI NEWSLETTER 5

- WHOI War Contributions continued from page 3 ______

dropped their normal studies. As the war progressed the Wartime Researr::h Changed WHOI number of unclassified projects being continued sank to a very low level and thus during the past three years The WHOI staff grew considerably as a result of war· there has been little that could be published concerning time research. In 1940, referred to by Iselin as '1he last our activities. Furthermore, the publication of the normal year," the staff numbered 60. In 1941 the total treasurer's report for the years after 1942 would have reached 107, in 1942 it was 96, and in 1943 it numbered revealed the magnitude, if not the nature, of the investi­ 173. By 1944 the Institution staff grew to 262 and by gations being undertaken at the request of the govern­ 1945 it had reached 335. During the war years 63 ment. employees left the laboratory for active duty with the "Now that the war is over and the security regulations armed . have been relaxed, it has become possible to present a Beginning in 1942 the top floor of Bigelow Laboratory, general picture of the part played by this laboratory in the Institution's only lab, was turned over to a group the war effort." working on explosives problems for the National De­ Columbus Iselin went on to note that "the history of fense Research Committee. The group grew very our war time research program properly begins with the rapidly and became known as the Underwater Explo­ Atlantis observations of February 1937 off Guantanamo, sives Research Laboratory. Iselin noted that "even if CUba. Using closely spaced mercurial thermometers, about half of the increase in staff during recent years diurnal warming and its effect on transmission was due to investigations more strictly oceanographic were studied in collaboration with the U.S.S. Semmes. than explosions, how was it possible to find any such These preliminary observations, which were amplified number of investigators with training in oceanographic during the following August, opened our eyes to the fact research? that plays a significant role in "The answer is that for the most part during the war subsurface warfare. The only immediate effect, how­ period we have not been engaged in oceanographic ever, was to stimulate the development of the bathyther­ research, but in the practical applications of physical mograph, an instrument much better adapted to the oceanography," Iselin wrote. "Thus geophysicists, measurement of shallow thermal gradients than the geologists, meteorologists and biologists, to mention conventional reversing thermometers. only a few of the types 01 investigators, all found a way In 1939 our second contact with naval applications of to contribute to the work at hand. However, the stimula­ oceanography became established when Dr. Selman tion to oceanography has been very considerable. Many Waksman (later a Nobel Prize recipient) was asked to investigators in allied fields have become genuinely direct an investigation of the role of slime film which interested in the ocean. Improvements in instrumenta­ forms on antifouling paints. Before two years had tion have resulted in a large mass of new observations passed we found ourselves deep in the many interesting which have been studied, both from the practical point of aspects of fouling, especially the fouling of more or less view and from the standpoint of pure oceanography." toxic surfaces. This investigation has in fact continued, Iselin highlighted seven general areas in which he felt under contract with the Bureau of Ships, right up to the the Institution contributed to the war effort: studies on present. antifouling paints and fouling organisms; tt was not until the late summer of 1940 that we were distribution on the surface layer of the North Atlantic and asked to undertake a serious study of the role of ocean­ improvements in the bathythermograph; air ography in subsurface warfare. Although the possibili­ and convection over the ocean; sea, and surf ties could only be dimly foreseen, the National Defense studies; underwater ; seismic mea­ Research Committee did not hesitate to back this surements in shallow water; and underwater research with all the necessary funds. Thus almost phenomena. overnight the number of qualified physical oceanogra­ "It should perhaps be added that from the standpoint phers in the country became entirely inadequate to deal of oceanography this work has been of value because with the several practical applications of their subject to much experience has been gained in carrying out modem warfare at sea. From that time on the personnel elaborate and precise experiments at sea," Iselin con­ problem has been our chief one. The mistake that was cluded. "The use of complicated electronic instruments made was that we did not at the outset undertake a on shipboard is a relatively new problem, but in all teaching program. When the war began in earnest in probability it will be a continuing one in oceanography." December 1941 it was too late to organize such a program .... "

6 WHOI NEWSLETIER MARCH 1995 New Faces

Elisa Berdalet Sergei Gorbarenko Fujimori Hidetoshi Linda Lewis Michael Thatcher Guest Investigator Guest Investigator Guest Investigator Housekeeper Engineering Assistant III Biology G&G AOP&E Human Resources Alvin Operations Redfield 3-32 McLean 207 Bigelow 203 Nobska Smnh 301 Ext 5859 Ext 2514 Ext 2230 Ext 2389 Ext. 2579 D. Anderson L. Keigwin J. Lynch M. Tucci B. Walden

Promotions linda Davis (Biology) to Senior Research Assistant I (2/5/95)

Allan Gordon (AOP&E) to Senior Engineering Assistant II (1122195)

David Herold (AOP&E) to Research Engineer (2/6/95)

Jane Hopewood (IPGS) to Staff Assistant II (2/19/95)

Michael Moore (Biology) to Research Specialist (2/5/95) Bob Bradford (left), Vice President of Safeway Stores, Inc. and Chairman of the National Easter Seals Board, presents Laurie Murphy with the 1994 Unsung Heroine Award. Join Human Resources in sharing remembrances of Barbara Wickenden Easter Seals Honors laurie Murphy

Tuesday, April 18, 1995 The Massachusetts Easter Seal Society'S 1994 Unsung 4;00 10 6;00 p.m. Heroine Award was presented to Payroll Manager Laurie Murphy (rain date April 24) at the Society's 50th Annual Meeting in December in Dedham. Since 1981 Murphy has organized a WHOI softball team to Nobska House Lawn raise money for Easter Seals, and during that time has raised Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution more than $12,000. Maury lane, Woods Hole "Murphy is the power behind this commitment, leading the Woods Hole team to beat their fundraising effort year after year," Refreshments will be served says Tricia Pimental of the Massachusetts Easter Seal Society. For more information, contact Melissa "Murphy is a volunteer who has consistently served the Easter Roberts Weidman (508) 289-3272 Seal Society with little recognition ."

MARCH 1995 WHOI NEWSLETTER 7 Ship Notes In Memoriam

ATLANTIS IVALVIN The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution announces with great sorrow AN Atlantis II and DSV Alvin the death March 8, 1995 of retired Chief Mate and Master Eugene Mysona of departed Bridgetown, Barbados, Woods Hole at Falmouth Hospital after a brief illness. He was 78. March 18 for a trip through the Gene Mysona was born in New Bedford, MA, in 1916 and graduated from Panama Canal. The vessels arrived New Bedford High School in 1933. He began employment at the Institution in at Rodman Naval Station, Panama, 1936, working as an ordinary seaman aboard Research Vessel Atlantis for a March 24 and departed March 26 on brief period and again during 1939-1940 between positions as a clerk cook and Leg IV of Voyage #132 to continue a fisherman. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1941 and served as Chief Quartermaster biological research program explor­ from 1941 to 1945, most of that time aboard the destroyer U.S.S. Flusser. ing how organisms interact with each Following military service Mysona returned to WHOI and was named cook other and with their environment aboard Research Vessel Reliance. He was promoted to Mate aboard Balanus during colonization of new and a few months later, and in 1947 was named Master of that vesseL In 1950 he established transferred to Seaf to serve as Master, and in 1951 to Albatross III. In 1952 habitats. Ten Alvin dives are planned Gene was named Master of the Bear, and except for a few months as Master near 1CON on the East Pacific Rise of Atlantis in 1959 he served as Master of Bear until 1962. He worked ashore during the cruise, the second of three in Purchasing for a brief period that same year before returning to marine planned to the site. operations as Chief Mate aboard Research Vessel Chain, where he remained Atlantis /I and Alvin are due at until the ship's retirement from the WHOI fleet in 1975. During this time he ManzaniJIo, Mexico, April 12. sailed relief on several other WHOI vessels, including positions as Second' Mate and Chief Mate aboard the Institution's new Research Vessel Atlantis /I KNORR in 1963, as operator of Asterias in 1966, and as Acting Master of Chain in AN Knorr departed Colombo, Sri 1974. Gene transferred to Research Vessel Oceanus, which had just joined Lanka, March lOon Leg VII 01 the WHOI fleet, in 1976 and served aboard that ship as Chief Mate and Acting extended Voyage #145 to continue Master during the next few years before he retired from WHOI in 1978. work as part of the Indian Ocean A funeral mass was held March 13 at SI. Joseph's Church in Woods Hole component of the World Ocean followed by burial at the MassachuseHs National Cemetery in Bourne. Dona~ Circulation Experiment (WQCE). tions in Gene Mysona's memory may be made to the charity of one's choice. CTD/rosette stations will be con­ ducted to the ocean bottom at 30- Ketchum Award Lecture continued from page 1 nautical-mile spacing along WOCE transects designated 18N and 15E. The Ketchum Award Lecture is hosted by WHOI's Coastal Research During the cruise routine surface Center. The award was established by WHOI in honor of well-known ocean­ water, meteorology, profiler ographer Bostwick H. ~Buck" Ketchum, who passed away in 1982. An endow­ and data will be col­ ment has been raised, much of it from friends and colleagues, to support an lected. Knorr is due at Fremantle, annual lecture by an internationally recognized ocean scientist or to bring to Australia, April 16. WHOI a younger investigator for a longer visit. It was first presented in April 1984 to Edward Goldberg of Scripps institution of Oceanography and last OCEANUS presented in September 1992 to SeaH Nixon of the University of Rhode island. RN Oceanus departed Vitoria, Criteria for the award include innovative coastal/nearshore research Brazil, March 5 on Leg III of Voyage leadership in the scientific community, strong interdisciplinary interactio~s with #266 to continue the retrieval and colleagues, inspiration to students and younger scientists, effective translation of research results into the policy arena, and through his/her own work, deployment of instrumentation used to measure ocean circulation as part address societal and environmental effects of coastal processes. of the Deep Basin Experiment, a Buck Ketchum was associated with WHOI for more than 40 years, first as a graduate student, later as a scientist, chairman of the Biology Department, component of the World Ocean Circulation Experiment, off Brazil. Member of the Corporation, and from 1962 to 1977 as ASSOCiate Director. He The vessel arrived in Salvador, played an active roie in the development of biological oceanography in Woods Hole. Like his mentor, the late physiologist and oceanographer Alfred C. Brazil, March 30 and was scheduled to depart April 3 to head for Woods Redfield, Buck Ketchum was equally at home in the physical, chemical and Hofe. During the transit home biological realms. His broad view of oceanography and appreciation for the Oceanus will aHempt to recover a interconnectedness of marine phenomena are evident in the more than 70 . The ship is due at Woods papers he authored on subjects ranging from estuarine phYSics to deep ocean biology. Hole April 22.

8 WHOI NEWSLETIER MARCH 1995