Viking not too long ago introduced its Viking Expedition Team has printed a scientific paper documenting the Viking first Antarctic season . Following observations of the hardly ever encountered scyphozoan Stygiomedusa gigantea (big phantom jellyfish), the encounters passed off throughout submersible dives within the coastal waters of the Antarctic Peninsula in early 2022.
A Rare Result
Despite reaching as much as 30 toes in size, solely 126 encounters with the enormous phantom jellyfish have ever been recorded for the reason that species was first described in 1910. During Viking’s inaugural season in Antarctica in 2022, direct observations of the enormous phantom jellyfish have been made 3 times from submersibles deployed from Viking’s expedition vessel, the Viking Octantis®, and documented by way of stills and video images.
Authored by two of Viking’s Chief Scientists, the scientific paper describes how private submersibles, comparable to these on Viking expedition ships, will be vessels of alternative for organic analysis. With citizen science actions being common amongst expedition company, the paper additionally notes the potential to assemble guest-derived knowledge from submersible dives. Lead writer, Dr. Daniel Moore, famous “It is extraordinary that we know so little about such large marine creatures as the giant phantom jellyfish, however now we have the means to make regular observations at greater depths than previously possible, which provides an exciting opportunity for discovery.”
Published in Polar Research, the scientific journal of the Norwegian Polar Institute, the article will be learn right here: http://dx.doi.org/10.33265/polar.v42.8873.
Viking Expedition Team
Viking has created the world’s main scientific enrichment atmosphere in an expedition setting with the assistance of partnerships with esteemed educational establishments. During every expedition, visiting researchers from associate establishments are a part of the 36-person Viking Expedition Team. This numerous group of consultants lead company by way of significant scientific work, present guiding and interpretation throughout shore excursions and ship world-class lectures.
In April 2022, Viking introduced a strengthening of its lead partnership with the University of Cambridge, establishing a brand new Professorship aimed toward advancing analysis within the area of polar environmental science. The Viking Polar Marine Geoscience Fund endows the University of Cambridge’s Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI) with its first-ever absolutely funded professorship—the Viking Chair of Polar Marine Geoscience. This new put up enhances the scientific management on the Institute and permits the event of latest traces of analysis into the habits of polar environments, together with polar ice sheets, sea ice and ocean circulation.
The analysis fund builds on Viking’s current partnership with Cambridge University’s SPRI, which performed a big function in creating the scientific enrichment program for Viking Expeditions. Specialists from the Institute have been additionally consulted within the growth of The Science Lab on Viking’s expedition vessels; the 380-square-foot lab is comprehensively appointed with moist and dry laboratory amenities and helps a broad vary of analysis. Julian Dowdeswell, Professor of Physical Geography on the University of Cambridge, and former director of SPRI, serves because the Chair of the Viking Research Advisory Group, a consortium of scientific leaders from Viking’s associate establishments who’ve been actively concerned in overseeing the sector analysis being undertaken on board.
In addition to the University of Cambridge’s SPRI, Viking First Antarctic Season’s different scientific companions embrace:
- The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Ornithologists are often on board Viking’s expedition vessels, enterprise post-doctoral analysis on new statement strategies and offering visitor recommendation and interplay.
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL): Conducts modern analysis on the dynamic environments and ecosystems of the Great Lakes and coastal areas to offer data for useful resource use and administration choices that result in protected and sustainable ecosystems, ecosystem providers, and human communities. Viking’s expedition ships have been designated official NOAA / US National Weather Service climate balloon stations, from which common launches are undertaken.
- Norwegian Institute of Water Research (NIVA): Scientists from NIVA are engaged in cross-disciplinary analysis packages on water-related points. On Viking’s expedition ships, NIVA FerryBoxes are put in to pattern the marine and freshwater areas the vessels sail, to offer steady details about chlorophyll, oxygen, temperature, salinity, microplastic presence and complementary meteorological knowledge.
- Norwegian Polar Institute: The allowing authority for Viking’s Norwegian flagged expedition vessels, who assessment and approve all of Viking’s expedition and science actions in Antarctica.
- Oceanites: Viking helps the fieldwork of Oceanites, an American Not-for-Profit area analysis entity, that has led on Antarctic penguin monitoring for the previous thirty years, by way of mobilizing groups of penguin researchers on Viking expedition Antarctic voyages.
- Fjord Phyto: Viking hosts a NASA-funded program of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, that gives the chance for company to interact in analysis and public schooling by way of novel citizen science sampling of polar phytoplankton, for genetic inhabitants analyses.
- The IUCN Species Survival Commission Species Monitoring Specialist Group: Viking coordinates with this worldwide group of consultants to develop marine biodiversity monitoring programs that allow Viking expedition vessels to gather helpful species inhabitants knowledge.
Viking First Antarctic Season- Viking Expeditions
Viking presents destination-focused expeditions in Antarctica and North America’s Great Lakes, with an expedition fleet that features the Polar Class Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris. Designed for discovery by the identical workforce that designed the award-winning Viking Longships® and ocean ships, the 378-guest vessels are purpose-built for expeditions, at a great dimension for security, consolation and to assist an unrivalled vary of actions in distant locations. With extra indoor and outside viewing areas than different expedition vessels, company are as shut as potential to probably the most magnificent surroundings on earth.
Published in Polar Research, the scientific journal of the Norwegian Polar Institute, the article will be learn right here: http://dx.doi.org/10.33265/polar.v42.8873.
Images: Viking Cruises