RRS James Cook docked in Iceland ahead of the JC269 expedition

Today (6th September), scientists and crew set sail onboard the RRS James Cook for the BIO-Carbon programme’s Autumn expedition.

Building on the Spring expedition which has already seen scientists spend 37 days at sea onboard RRS Discovery earlier this year, scientists are returning to the North Atlantic, south of Iceland. Their novel studies will allow the next generation of climate modelling to correctly account for how marine life is helping the ocean store carbon. 

Scientists know that marine organisms play a critical role in storing carbon in the ocean that might otherwise remain in the atmosphere. However, recent evidence suggests that climate models are not fully accounting for the impact of potential changes in biological processes. This could hinder predictions of the ocean’s role in future carbon storage at a critical time.

The JC269 expedition will see the retrieval of the gliders deployed on the Spring expedition and a continuation of groundbreaking BIO-Carbon fieldwork.

The exciting combination of field research and cutting-edge autonomous technology across the two expeditions will provide rare in situ observations across a whole seasonal cycle with intense sampling across the most biologically active seasons. 

The ambitious BIO-Carbon programme, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), will deliver the new understanding necessary to make robust predictions for how oceanic carbon storage may alter under climate change.

Follow BIO-Carbon on ‘X’ for expedition updates 

Next stop Cardiff
Following the JC269 expedition, the BIO-Carbon programme is excited to be exhibiting onboard the RRS James Cook at a free public event, “Archwiliwch ein planed – Explore our planet” hosted by NERC in partnership with NOC and Techniquest, Cardiff.

The event, taking place from 18–20 October, will be based at Techniquest, and include public access to the RRS James Cook, the NOC-operated global class research vessel which will be docked in Cardiff Bay. The event and activities bring the world of environmental science to the public, full of fun, facts and interactive environmental science with hands-on attractions and in-person talks by the UK’s leading environmental scientists. 

“Archwiliwch ein planed – Explore our planet” will include free, ticketed access to Techniquest – the Cardiff based science discovery centre: focused on exploring the world of science, technology, engineering and mathematics for schools, families and adult visitors.

Click here to learn more about the event