German research vessel begins Antarctic expedition

The Polarstern—a German research vessel operated by the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI)—left port late last week for the start of its 28th Antarctic expedition. Over 200 researchers and technicians from 14 countries will man the ship's decks and research labs throughout each of the trip's five legs.

On an extension arm crew member of a previous Polarstern expedition hover above a small iceberg to sample ice. Photo © Petra Demmler / Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research

The Polarstern—which is said to be “the most sophisticated polar research vessel in the world” at this time—was commissioned in 1982 for research in the polar seas and, since it's completion, has seen more than 50 expeditions.  This journey will take the ship from Bremerhaven, Germany to Cape Town, South Africa; to the Neumayer Station III in the Antarctic; and back to Cape Town.  The Polarstern is also scheduled to make a stop in Punta Arenas, Chile before returning to Bremerhaven in May 2012.

During this journey the research teams aboard the Polarstern plan to look into a wide spectrum of topics: oceanography and marine chemistry, and atmospheric research, as well as the biology of bacteria, tiny algae, crustaceans, fish, and more.  In the Antarctic, the Polarstern will supply the Neumayer Station III with new provisions and personnel.

Whales, for example, will be one focus of study during the first leg of this year's Polarstern journey.  Last year researchers from the Oceanic Acoustics team at the AWI recorded whale songs off of the coast of Namibia.  “Since visual observations of whales in the enormous oceans are rare, the bioacoustics experts wish to collect information on which species occur when in areas only presumed to be the mating grounds of blue and fin whales up to now,” explained a press release about the expedition.  “Since the behaviour-specific calls, such as during mating, are known, the researchers can also tell whether the whales are just passing through or really reproducing there. In this way they want to make a major contribution to learning more about the seasonal occurrence and reproduction behaviour of these baleen whales.”  The first leg of the expedition will run until December 1, 2011.

Students interested in work on the Polarstern are welcome to apply here, as possibilities for student participation exist on most Polarstern expeditions.

Links

View the Polarstern's current location
Alfred Wegener Institute website