In depth study of Indian Ocean by RV Investigator

An Australian voyage retracing part of the historic first International Indian Ocean Expedition has shed new light on one of the least understood areas of the planet.

Forty researchers from 18 institutions have returned from 32 days at sea sampling along the 110°E longitudinal meridian in the deep ocean, approximately 500-600 km offshore of the west coast of Australia.

The researchers measured physical and chemical properties and collecting water samples down to 5,800m depth. They also investigated creatures from microbes to megafauna living in these waters.

The team also used bio-optics to confirm the accuracy of ocean colour observations by satellites to evaluate production by algae and carbon sequestering on an ocean basin scale.

Results from this voyage will be compared to data from the original voyage, to examine if there have been any changes to the marine environment over past 60 years.

This research was supported by a grant of sea time on RV Investigator from the CSIRO Marine National Facility.

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