Understanding eddy interactions and their impacts in the EAC

Voyage Number

IN2023_V06

Voyage Dates

09 Oct, 2023 to 02 Nov, 2023

Voyage Location

Sydney to Sydney

Chief Scientist

Prof Moninya Roughan

Institution

UNSW

View the full voyage

Voyage summary

Research voyage out of Sydney to study ocean mesoscale eddies, the ‘weather systems’ of the ocean, that move heat, salinity, marine life and other materials around.

Little is known about mesoscale (intermediate scale systems) eddies and how they interact with each other or impact the ocean, ecosystems and climate. In the eddy-rich East Australian Current (EAC) System, eddies are penetrating further south as the climate changes, driving ocean warming and ‘tropicalisation’.

This voyage will be led by the University of New South Wales and seek to increase our understanding of mesoscale eddies by collecting satellite and in-situ ocean measurements. These data will help improve forecasts and predictions of eddy interactions. Ocean and atmosphere measurements will be taken along transect lines off the coast of NSW in the EAC from shelf waters (100m depth) to deep ocean (4600m depth). The research will increase understanding and certainty of ocean forecasting and storm, which will benefit end users such as the Royal Australian Navy and coastal communities.

The voyage timing will coincide with the pioneering high-resolution Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite operated by NASA, which will provide highly accurate sea-surface height observations. 

The voyage has 35 science participants from 8 institutions including the University of Auckland (NZ) and University of East Anglia (UK), and 20 ship crew from ASP Ship Management.

COVID Protocols

To safeguard the health and well-being of participants, strict COVID protocols apply to all activities on this voyage. This includes PCR testing of all participants for COVID prior to boarding the vessel.

Voyage outcomes

A summary of voyage outcomes will be published approximately 3-6 months after the completion of the voyage.