JEDDAH: Scientists on board the Tara, a sailboat that has set out on a three-year scientific expedition across the oceans to study the secrets of the earth’s climate and marine environment, have said they are keen on establishing links with King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST).
Two of the research scientists of Tara Oceans told reporters at the French Consulate General on Saturday they would visit the KAUST to meet with officials of the university before sailing out of the Jeddah Islamic Port on Sunday.
“It’s a very special expedition to study the invisible world of the oceans, which will interest the local university researchers,” said Tara Capt. Olivier Marien. Marien, who was accompanied by Fabrice Not, a research scientist on board the vessel, said the boat has a crew of 15.
A popular French TV documentary program, Thalassa, which focuses on maritime reports and issues and is watched by six million viewers, featured Jeddah as the vessel made Jeddah its most recent port of call. During its three-year expedition, which began in September 2009 and ends in November 2012, the vessel will have traveled 150,000 km through 50 countries to pick up samples from the seas along the way. Twenty different scientific experiments are scheduled daily with the involvement of 50 laboratories from 15 countries including France, Italy, Germany and the United States. It will have 60 stopovers during the voyage.
“The Red Sea is of special interest. This sea is different, as its south is rich in nutrients and north, not so rich,” Not said.
The Tara Foundation is behind the Tara Oceans expedition, which will attempt to provide answers to the climatic issues, and in particular to deepen the knowledge on marine biodiversity. This expedition will explore the oceans in order to study their microscopic life and understand the latter’s impact on the climate of the planet.
“Through this expedition, Tara Oceans wishes to inform the public through multimedia about the vital role of oceans and the impact of climate warming,” Not said.
Explaining the objective of the expedition, Marien said the innovative project proposed a study of marine life on a planetary scale. “Its main objective is to analyze the diversity and the community dynamics of plankton including viruses and bacteria, algae, zooplankton and fish larvae. Guided by satellite communication and oceanographic data, Tara Oceans will analyze the composition of plankton at different depths while monitoring physiochemical parameters of the ocean,” he said.
