koldunovn
1st March 2006, 07:42 PM
By TARA GODVIN
HONOLULU - Ocean scientists are enlisting cargo and cruise ships to measure water temperatures, ocean currents and even the height of clouds as the vessels ply their regular routes, in a program that they hope will help reveal some of the oceans‘ secrets.
The long-term data that commercial ships can furnish are what has been historically difficult to obtain, said Thomas Rossby, professor at the University of Rhode Island‘s Graduate School of Oceanography.
The volunteer programs are also cheaper, considering the cost of renting a dedicated research vessel for a single day could exceed $15,000.
With instruments affixed this year to the Norrona, a ferry that makes a roundtrip every week stopping in Denmark, Scotland and Iceland, Rossby hopes to learn more about the cold waters emptying out of the Arctic seas into the northern Atlantic Ocean.
And the Nuka Arctic has been helping since 1999 to give scientists a look at the Gulf Stream along its path between Denmark and Greenland.
Working with the University of Miami, cruise ship operator Royal Caribbean International built Explorer of the Seas with oceanographic and atmospheric laboratories for scientists and a science learning center for passengers.
"Some people even stay on when they‘re in port. Rather than go on and buy the trinkets, they stay on to do this," Zika said.
Michael Sheehan, spokesman for Royal Caribbean, said the program started out as a way to give back to the environment but quickly grew to include participation by NOAA and NASA and a program for visiting researchers.
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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: http://www.noaa.gov/
University of Rhode Island: http://www.gso.uri.edu/
University of Miami: http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/
Royal Caribbean: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/
(SUBS 2nd graf to correct name of laboratory, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, NOT Atlantic Ocean Marine Laboratory.)
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credits to: http://localnewsleader.com/jackson/stories/index.php?action=fullnews&id=150191
HONOLULU - Ocean scientists are enlisting cargo and cruise ships to measure water temperatures, ocean currents and even the height of clouds as the vessels ply their regular routes, in a program that they hope will help reveal some of the oceans‘ secrets.
The long-term data that commercial ships can furnish are what has been historically difficult to obtain, said Thomas Rossby, professor at the University of Rhode Island‘s Graduate School of Oceanography.
The volunteer programs are also cheaper, considering the cost of renting a dedicated research vessel for a single day could exceed $15,000.
With instruments affixed this year to the Norrona, a ferry that makes a roundtrip every week stopping in Denmark, Scotland and Iceland, Rossby hopes to learn more about the cold waters emptying out of the Arctic seas into the northern Atlantic Ocean.
And the Nuka Arctic has been helping since 1999 to give scientists a look at the Gulf Stream along its path between Denmark and Greenland.
Working with the University of Miami, cruise ship operator Royal Caribbean International built Explorer of the Seas with oceanographic and atmospheric laboratories for scientists and a science learning center for passengers.
"Some people even stay on when they‘re in port. Rather than go on and buy the trinkets, they stay on to do this," Zika said.
Michael Sheehan, spokesman for Royal Caribbean, said the program started out as a way to give back to the environment but quickly grew to include participation by NOAA and NASA and a program for visiting researchers.
_____
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: http://www.noaa.gov/
University of Rhode Island: http://www.gso.uri.edu/
University of Miami: http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/
Royal Caribbean: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/
(SUBS 2nd graf to correct name of laboratory, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, NOT Atlantic Ocean Marine Laboratory.)
---------------------
credits to: http://localnewsleader.com/jackson/stories/index.php?action=fullnews&id=150191