FROM meteorological balloons to cold water survival, the journey of new research vessel RV Investigator to the Southern Ocean has been declared a success, and hopes to unlock new information about the earth’s climate.
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The ship, operated by the CSIRO, has returned to Hobart after making a 2500-kilometre journey south into frigid temperatures to test its capabilities.
The $120-million ship was put to the test on the ice edge, completing its first cold water trials.
Operations officer Max McGuire said it was the most southerly voyage any Marine National Facility vessel had undertaken.
‘‘Everyone was really excited to reach the 65 degree south line, which is around 90 nautical miles from the Antarctic continent,’’ Mr McGuire said.
Dr Robyn Schofield, from the University of Melbourne, led a team that launched 10 meteorological balloons from the ship.
‘‘We used this voyage, in part, to plan for future scientific voyages that will be examining storm fronts over the Southern Ocean,’’ Dr Schofield said.
Investigator will leave Hobart on March 22 for its first research voyage, which will deploy deep sea oceanographic moorings in the Southern Ocean.