The Ross Sea is the worlds largest Marine Protected Area, and a rapidly changing region of our planet. In these research voyages we sought to understand how ongoing climate change was impacting globally important processes in this polar system. 

Following the massive eruption of Hunga Volcano, which sent shockwaves around the world, we surveyed the surrounding marine ecosystem to determine to scale, and mechanisms, of impact. 

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Resultant publications: 1, 2

With routine field sampling across seasons from 2017-2019 and laboratory experiments, we explored the drivers of coral reef stress by coupling biogeochemical measurements with coral microbiomes. With work during a major bleaching event, we further explored how coral bleaching impacts surrounding marine ecosystem structure and function, and feedback effects. 

Leads: R. Vega Thurber; A. Correa; A.R. Thurber

Resultant publications: 1 ; 2  

Travelling between Samoa and Hawaii we explored several new seamounts with the Remotely Operated Vehicles Hercules and Argos aboard the E/V Nautilus

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Focused on the Chukchi Sea, this program sampled and explored how climate warming is impacting a myriad of ocean processes in the Arctic, including carbon sequestration. 

A three-month experimental analysis of the response of coral reefs along the coast of American Samoa to varying climate impacts. 

With a multi-disciplinary suite of ocean technology we traced the influence of the Calypso Vent Field seeps on marine biogeochemical processes, including ocean-to-atmosphere carbon fluxes.

With remotely operated vehicles, water column profiling, and heavy-duty coring technologies we explored poorly understood methane seep systems of the Hikurangi Margin. We looked across a range of fluid routing mechanisms and habitat types, including habitats impacted by bottom trawling activities, to better understand the drivers of dynamic deep-sea seep ecosystems.

Resultant publications: 1

Dozens of seep sites were discovered for the first time aboard the E/V Nautilus, with sampling to understand the heterogeneity of seep systems along the margin. 

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Resultant publications: 1 ; 2 ; 3; 4

Following the first discovery of a potential methane seep in the Antarctic, we returned in 2016 to McMurdo Sound to confirm the feature and characterise the biogeochemical and microbial dynamics.

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Resultant publications: 1

An cruise-leader training research cruise at the Hawaii Ocean Time Series sampling zone

Operating out of the main station of Operation Wallacea on Hoga Island, Indonesia, we surveyed the health status of a wide range of reef systems across South East Sulawesi