IN2018_C01 Townsend

28 May – 8 June 2018 Research vessel Investigator is undertaking a charter voyage to carry out a hydrographic (seafloor mapping) survey in Bass Strait.

The not so Shy Albatross

Of the numerous seabird species sighted thus far, one that has certainly not lived up to its name is the Shy Albatross.

Sound velocity wet test to determine ocean temperature

Every four hours the hydrographers aboard Investigator stop the ship along one of the transect lines to undertake a ‘Sound Velocity Wet Test’ (SVT) to determine ocean temperature.

Science is all around us

Whilst on the ‘Monkey Bridge’ Observation Deck 7, today we captured a ‘Sun Dog’, the small rainbow patch amongst the clouds.

Accurately identifying species

Working on the ‘Monkey Bridge’, Observation Deck 7, Dr Ben Arthur (MNF) and Dr Eric Woehler (Uni Tas) discuss a small flock of shearwaters, captured within the 300m recording zone on one side of the vessel.

The geodiversity of the Indian ocean seafloor revealed by MH370 search data

Last night, the entire ship’s crew were fortunate enough to listen to a presentation from Kim Picard from Geoscience Australia who was involved with the MH370 search in the Indian Ocean over the past 2 years.

Sea birds and other megafauna

As I have blogged about previously, one of the projects being undertaken on board the RV Investigator is the collection of data on the distribution and abundance of seabirds to the south of Wilson’s Promontory in Bass Strait. Now upwards of 5 days of data have been collected by lead researcher Dr Eric Woehler and I felt now was a good time to give you an update.

Profile: Nigel Townsend

By: Chad King Lieutenant Commander Nigel Townsend is a Staff Officer Quality Control at the Australian Hydrographic Office. After joining […]

Seafloor mapping: Tools of the trade

One of the most common instruments used in oceanographic research on the RV Investigator is a CTD rosette system.

Day 4: Science meets the Australian Hydrographic Service

By: Thomas Coad Today I had the privilege of working alongside Lieutenant Scott Lytton of the Australian Hydrographic Service (AHS). […]