67. Data are available through the web for the study area, but these data are usually averaged over many years, and have low temporal and spatial resolution. It was agreed that more oceanographic data were needed, even better, if possible on a tow-by-tow basis. It was noted that all Ukrainian scientific cruises collected oceanographic data and generally a mechanical bathythermograph was shot at every tow and water samples taken with Nansen bottles. The meeting was informed about an imminent cruise by the RRS Charles Darwin [4], which would be collecting oceanographic data in the study area. Further, it was believed that there would be GOOS cruises in the future as well. The CSIRO undertakes oceanographic cruises but primarily are restricted to the eastern Indian Ocean and shelf/slope area. Responsibility for this programme rests with the Climate Programme within the CSIRO. It was reported that France would be undertaking a research cruise in the near future. There is a modelling initiative of the ocean circulation in the Indian Ocean through the World Ocean Circulation Experiment. Though this programme has collected large amounts of data much of it remains unanalysed.
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[4] The RRS Darwin, a
British ship belonging to the National Research Council, has been working the
Indian Ocean east of Mauritius since April 2002 and sampled near Rodrigues
Island (19o45'S, 63o25'E). The vessel collected sidescan
sonar data along the Central Indian Ridge and used a midwater trawl to collect
plankton and fish in the water column around vents. The ship’s officers,
when asked, said they had seen no fishing boats during the period of their
cruise. - Ed. |
