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Today we start mapping the pathway between the surrounding ocean and the amazing coral population of the Scott Reef system. Due to the lack of rainfall and strong heating in the region, the ocean has a very strong vertical temperature gradient – as much as 30 °C at the surface, and then colder as you … Continued
Over the past few evenings co-cruise leader Dr. Andrew Heyward has been usingFalkor’s Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to explore the deeper mesophotic coral communities of Scott Reef. Shown here is a compilation video of the ROV dives on Scott Reef over the past few nights. The video has been put together by Dr. Andrew Heyward. Dr. … Continued
We are now truly settled into our visit to Scott Reef and weather conditions have been ideal for deploying oceanographic instruments overboard Falkor. The science party have brought a vast range of equipment for measuring various oceanographic processes, from small wave gauges to large moorings. One of the key instruments brought on board is a … Continued
Coral reefs are among the most productive ecosystems on the planet, with the primary producers at the base of the food chain (including corals) supporting their complex food webs. Through primary production, reef organisms covert carbon dioxide via photosynthesis into energy (organic carbon) that they and other reef organisms use for food. Although light provides … Continued
Mass spawning of corals occurs annually on reefs worldwide, usually between spring and autumn, in tune with seasonal cycles of water temperature and sunlight. This extraordinary natural event remained part of the secret lives of corals until the early 1980s when scientists began to spend time underwater after dark. Worldwide observations of coral spawning have … Continued
Falkor arrived late last night at the remote Scott Reef. Perched on the edge of the continental shelf the reef rises up out of depths of up to 800 meters and forms one of the region’s most prominent features. The reef actually consists of two adjacent atolls (coral reefs that enclose lagoons): a pear shaped … Continued
Research vessel Falkor left Broome, in North Western Australia today and has begun her voyage of discovery of the remote oceanic reefs of the Timor Sea. Scientists and crew are excited to finally be underway after lengthy preparations. Loading all the equipment for a research cruise always takes time with the process further complicated by … Continued
Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel Falkor has just completed a two week coordinated robotics expedition in the remote Timor Sea. Falkor is now returning to the same location for a new month-long cruise investigating ecological processes that shape coral reef communities. It was a quick swap for Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel Falkor, who just completed her third … Continued
The Coordinated Robotics cruise has now finished, and the science team and crew are currently demobilizing in Broome. It was a great two weeks at Scott Reef in the Timor Sea with multiple robotics platforms operating at the same time. In total, the science team was able to achieve 19 dives with AUV Sirius, totaling … Continued
