Ocean Sciences

Sailing for Science: How Data from Sailing Races Advances Ocean Research

Jacqueline Behncke November 12, 2024

The tracks of the 33 competitors from the last Vendée Globe sailing race edition in 2020-21. (Credit: Erwan Rivault)

The Vendée Globe began on November 10th, with 44 participants embarking on the world’s toughest sailing race. This non-stop, single-handed round-the-world yacht race challenges skippers to circumnavigate the Southern Ocean. The race starts in France, traverses the North Atlantic, and heads directly into the Southern Ocean. Despite taking place during the austral summer, the conditions remain ...[Read More]

The Alarming Decline in Ocean CO2 Observations

Jacqueline Behncke October 14, 2024

(Image credit: ChatGPT)

„observations not taken today are lost forever.“ (Wunsch et al., 2013) The Critical Need for CO2 Measurements Imagine the ocean as a giant lung, breathing in carbon dioxide (CO2) and helping to keep our planet cool. It absorbs about 25% of the CO2 emissions from human activities, playing a crucial role in mitigating the pace of climate change. But what happens when we lose sight of this process? B ...[Read More]

Welcome back to Ocean Sciences blog!

Jenna Balaguer and Jacqueline Behncke September 20, 2024

Welcome back, Ocean Sciences community! We have been quiet for a while, but we are happy to say we’re back! We have missed sharing the latest research, insights, stories, ideas and we are eager to present fresh content and exciting initiatives starting in September. In the following months, we have a range of exciting content lined up for the blog. We will be sharing interesting new research in oc ...[Read More]

A modern take on the 19th-century scientific expeditions: cruise MSM104/1

Eduardo Queiroz Alves July 7, 2022

Sunset onboard RV Maria S Merian (Credit: Eduardo Queiroz Alves)

“Every ship that navigates the high seas, with these charts and blank abstract logs on board, may henceforth be regarded as a floating observatory, a temple of science.” Matthew Fontaine Maury This is a joint post, published together with the climate sciences division blog and the ocean sciences division blog. The ocean has always been important for humanity, with trade and war being just two exam ...[Read More]