Seafloor to Seabirds in the Coral Sea

Mapping Microcontinents
The expedition will continue to the northeast and west of the area mapped during the previous expedition. Mapping efforts will be focused on significant geomorphic features like the Cato Trough, the Coriolis Ridge, Kenn Reefs bank, Kenn and Chesterfield plateaux. Mapping this area may add an additional 30,000 square kilometers to the high-definition seabed maps of the Coral Sea Marine Park, one of the largest marine protected areas in the world. The Cato Trough is the narrowest gap between the Australian tectonic plate and the microcontinents of the Kenn and Chesterfield Plateaux, which are a part of the submerged continent Zealandia. The Cato Trough is also the connection between the north Tasman and Coral Sea oceanic basins. The Coriolis Ridge is a priority area for mapping for fisheries scientists and Parks Australia managers. The Kenn Reefs bank was partially mapped during the Northern Depths of the Great Barrier Reef expedition and maps suggest complicated seafloor features on the bank, likely due to past volcanic eruptions. Surveying these areas will aid in our understanding of the breakup and formation of the Australian continent and may have clues that will help solve the region’s complex tectonic history. 

Sampling Microplastics
The scientists will also measure microplastics in the surface water using a protocol they piloted during the last expedition. Dr. Helen Bostock came up with the protocol out of curiosity, utilizing materials she brought onboard the ship, and filtered seawater coming through the ship’s flow-through system. The sampling was refined multiple times throughout the voyage to eliminate any potential sources of contamination demonstrating the continuously evolving nature of science and collaboration between the science crew and marine technicians. The continued refinement and data collection will continue on this expedition.

Surveying Seabirds
During the last expedition, 15,000 seabirds made up of twenty different species were spotted. The seabird counting will continue, as understanding seabird populations is valuable for measuring the health of our ocean. Seabird distribution is highly dependent on where prey, such as fish and krill, are concentrated. Prey concentration is highly variable based on oceanographic conditions, which fluctuate over space and time. The number of seabirds is an excellent indicator of ocean productivity. Measurements will also be taken using an ADCP and CTD to better characterize the poorly understood currents and water masses in the Coral Sea Marine Park, which influence the ocean’s ecology.