International research ship on lap of Antarctica makes Hobart pit stop
More than 50 scientists from around the world have arrived in Hobart after completing the first leg of a three-month voyage around Antarctica.
The Antarctic Circumnavigation Expedition (ACE) is a philanthropic project initiated by polar explorer Frederik Paulsen and is the first assignment of the newly created Swiss Polar Institute.
The Russian research vessel Akademik Treshnikov arrived in Hobart this morning from Cape Town.
An open call for projects launched in November 2015 attracted more than 100 applications.
Following selection by an international scientific committee, 22 projects comprising researchers from 30 countries were selected.
Almost half the projects, which all focus on different research areas, have Australian involvement.
Dr Paulsen said although each of the research projects were separate, they had a common denominator.
"The greatest danger is if the glaciers start melting in Antarctica – then I think all of humanity is going to be in trouble," he said.
"We hope to be able to contribute to a better understanding of what is happening."
Sounding out Antarctic whales
One project led by Australian Antarctic Division marine mammal acoustician Brian Miller will undertake the first circumpolar survey of Antarctic whales in a single voyage.
Dr Miller said the current status of many whale populations was largely unknown.
He said many species found in Antarctica made distinctive sounds, and within a species the sounds may vary depending on location.
His team will listen in on the whales and gather data on the distribution of Antarctic, sub-Antarctic and sub-tropical whales.
Another project, led by Professor Steven Chown from Monash University, will investigate biodiversity in the Antarctic.
His team aims to find answers to an unresolved questions such as how life has evolved and spread around the region.
They hope to find new species in areas that are rarely visited.
Other research will be conducted over a range of disciplines, including climatology, glaciology, oceanography, biology and biochemistry.
The ACE team will stay in Hobart until January 22, when it leaves on the next leg of the voyage to Chile.