The Scholar Ship Research Institute	Ocean Partners	Current Voyage	Background	Observations

Oceanography

@ The Scholar Ship Research Institute

Oceanography is one of the three research disciplines in The Scholar Ships environmental sustainability programme - closely related to the other two, The Coastal Environment   and Atmospheric Sciences. On its voyages around the world The Scholar Ship crosses regions of the ocean where only few oceanographic measurements have been made. For oceanographers this represents an opportunity to collect key data that would otherwise be difficult or too expensive to obtain.

Measurements and observations

As a 'ship of opportunity' The Scholar Ship carries instruments supplied by science partners around to measure key oceanographic and atmospheric parameters. The list of measurements and observations is growing and includes:

FerryBox: an automated flow through system supplied by NOCS to measure temperature, salinity, chlorophyll, turbidity and dissolved gases continuously along track. Water samples taken from this system will be processed in the laboratory onboard, for example for pigment analysis, species identification and DNA.

VOS instrument package to measure meteorological parameters have been supplied by the UK Met-Office as part of the WMO Voluntary Observing Ship (VOS) Scheme.

Argo floats are free-drifting profiling floats that measures the temperature and salinity in the upper 2000 m of the ocean. These floats will be released on certain legs in the Pacific and Indian Ocean by the Met Office, NOAA, and Coriolis as part of the International Argo Programme

Marine mammal and sea bird survey: a volunteer observer program to monitor daily marine life sightings, focussing on cetacean species.

The ocean covers over 70% of the Earth's surface, represents 99% of the planet's living space is home to the most diverse ecosystems supplies much of the world's protein produces half the planet's oxygen cools the tropics and warms polar areas contains 97% of the Earth's water controls rainfall patterns around the world holds 50 times more carbon than the atmosphere absorbs 1/3 of human CO2 emissions each year

Oceanography and life onboard

The Scholar Ship has started its first voyage. The meteorological instruments made their first measurements on leg 1 through the Mediterranean. The FerryBox system, installed in Lisbon, is making its first measurements on leg 2 across the Atlantic to Panama City. Dana, who coordinates oceanography onboard, is sending back regular updates from the ship.

Oceanographers in Residence

Marine scientists who wish to take advantage of The Scholar Ship's facilities to do research onboard can apply to become oceanographer-in-residence for one or more of the ships legs. Oceanographers in Residence support the on-ship marine programme of research, teaching and outreach by interacting with students and giving lectures about their work. MORE

Oceanography background information

As The Scholar Ship crosses the oceans, we will look at the oceanography of the regions it passes through. There will be general information on climate, currents, ecology and geology, but also updates from oceanographers around the world on their current research. Each leg has its own topics, which can be reached via the map of the current voyage.