Southern Ocean Voyage Probes Human Activities Effect on Atmosphere
(MENAFN) Australian scientists have embarked on a three-week research voyage to the Southern Ocean, as announced by the nation's science agency on Wednesday. Departing from Hobart, Tasmania, on April 29th and scheduled to return on May 18th, the mission aboard the CSIRO research vessel Investigator aims to investigate the effects of human activities on the atmosphere.
The team will monitor air quality up to 1,500 kilometers northwest of Tasmania, comparing their findings with long-term data from the Kennaook/Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station. This remote Tasmanian site, operational since 1976, serves as a crucial global hub for tracking atmospheric composition and "baseline" air – some of the planet's purest air, untouched by land-based pollution.
CSIRO atmospheric scientist Ruhi Humphries explained the significance of the region, stating, "The Southern Ocean absorbs a lot of the world's carbon dioxide and heat, so any changes can influence our weather and climate."
Equipped with sophisticated instruments, the researchers will gather detailed atmospheric data by measuring trace gases, aerosols, cloud microphysics, and solar radiation. Humphries noted that the research will specifically focus on alterations caused by human activities, including bushfire smoke and greenhouse gas emissions.
Humphries further elaborated that the scientists intend to gain a deeper understanding of how aerosols and cloud formation influence climate patterns in the Southern Hemisphere.
Associate Professor Robyn Schofield from the University of Melbourne, who is participating in the voyage, emphasized the importance of this research for improving Southern Hemisphere climate forecasting, highlighting that much of current climate science is skewed towards Northern Hemisphere conditions.
Both the Investigator research vessel and the Cape Grim station are integral components of the World Meteorological Organization's Global Atmosphere Watch program.
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