Oceanography Background Information

Why oceanography?

Half the world?s population lives within 60km of the coast, and many depend on the sea for their livelhihood. Some of the fastest growing cities in the world are coastal; to be sustainable this growth must be planned carefully to prevent damage to fragile marine environments, and to minmise risks from storms, floods and sea level rise.

Oceanography is the study of physical, chemical, geological and biological processes within the Earth's oceans. It holds the key to many present-day challenges. How will the climate change into the future? What are the likely impacts of global warming on coastal regions? How can natural resources (whether biological or mineral) be exploited sustainably, with the least environmental damage?

The pages listed for each leg will give a flavour of the diversity of oceanographic research around the world.

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

Voyage 1

Leg 1: Piraeus (Athens) to Lisbon

Leg 2: Lisbon to Panama City

Leg 3: Panama City to Guayaquil (Equador)

Leg 4: Guayaquil to Papeete (Tahiti)

Leg 5: Papeete (Tahiti) to Auckland

Leg 6: Auckland to Sydney

Leg 7: Sydney to Shanghai

Leg 8: Shanghai to Hong Kong/Macao