[The sound of a ship rushing through the water can be heard and an image appears of a view looking down on the ship cutting through the water]
[Music plays and the image changes to show a blue screen, and text appears: From research vessel to regional resilience]
[Image changes to show Dr Bea Pena-Molino talking to the camera inside the ship, and text appears: Dr Bea Pena-Molino, Voyage Chief Scientist – CSIRO, Australia]
Dr Bea Pena-Molino: I am Dr Bea Pena-Molino. I'm a physical oceanographer. We're on board the RV Investigator and we're on our way to the Equator now. We departed Fiji some time ago.
[Image changes to show a facing view of the Investigator moving through the ocean, and then the camera pans out in an anticlockwise direction to show a side view of the ship]
And, and the purpose of this voyage is to travel from the Equator all the way to the sea ice edge, close to Antarctica.
[Images move through to show a close view of a multicorer plunging into the water from the ship, the multicorer moving down through the water, and Bea talking to the camera]
And we'll be collecting observations of the ocean from the surface all the way to the bottom, which is around 5kms in this part of the world. And we'll have a stop in New Zealand halfway. We'll get fresh team on board and some of us will get off and then we'll continue down south along the single line. So the voyage, the actual work will continue down to the ice edge.
[Image changes to show a close view of the Investigator on calm seas, and the camera zooms in on the boat, and then over the top of the boat]
We hope we can get as far as 70 degrees south or thereabouts, and then we'll return back to Hobart, which is Investigator's home port.
[Image changes to show Bea talking to the camera]
This voyage has a number of research questions that we're trying to address but they're all about connecting the physics, the chemistry and the biology.
[Image changes to show a close view of a rope attaching the multicorer to the front of the ship]
So we're trying to understand how the ocean is changing. And both that can be as a result of climate, but it can also be what's driving our climate.
[Camera pans around to show the apparatus extending from the side of the ship for deploying the multicorer, and then the image changes to show Bea talking to the camera]
And because of those changes, the environment is changing and all the creatures that live in the ocean are feeling those changes. So we want to see that impact from the physics to the chemistry to the biology.
[Images move through to show the multicorer under the surface of the water gradually being pulled to the surface, then up out of the water, and then Bea talking to the camera]
And because the ship is the only tool we have to observe the full depth of the ocean, it is critical that we're here in order to provide that information of that deeper part of the ocean that we can't see from satellites from the surface.
[Music plays and the image changes to show a side view of the Investigator on the ocean, and the camera pans along the side of the ship]
[Image changes to show a rear view of Bea looking over the ship railing, and then the image shows another female joining Bea at the ship’s railing looking out over the ocean]
[Image changes to show the Investigator bridge, and then the image changes to show a view looking down on the deck, and the camera pans along the deck]
[Camera continues to pan along showing the sun setting behind the ship, and crew members at the front of the ship looking out over the sea]
[Image changes to show a view moving across the deck, and then the image changes to show a corer being winched up on the deck while crew members watch]
[Image changes to show a close view of three crew members working on the corer attached to the winch, and then the image changes to show a view looking down on the ship]
[Camera pans over the ship to the open ocean, and then the image changes to show a facing view of the ship and crew members can be seen waving]
[Music continues to play and the camera gradually pans out to show an ice shelf in the background, and the camera pans upwards]
[Music continues to play and ocean waves can be heard, and the image changes to show a close view of measuring equipment on the ship]
[Image changes to show a view looking down on a point of rocky land, and then the image changes to show a view looking down on the Investigator moving through the water]
[Image changes to show a blue screen, and text appears: Why is international collaboration important?]
[Image changes to show Bea talking to the camera, and then the image changes to show a view looking down on the ship in the water again]
This voyage that we're on at the moment, it’s part of an international effort that goes by the name of GO-SHIP. There are many nations contributing to it. It's been going on for decades now.
[Image changes to show the multicorer being deployed from the side of the ship, and then the image changes to show views of the corer plunging down into the water]
And the key aspect is that no single nation can collect observations over the entire ocean. So we all take responsibility for some of the sections, and they all get shared and put together to produce a global picture of the ocean.
[Image changes to show Bea talking to the camera, and then the image changes to show the Investigator moored slightly off the coast of a township]
So it's through that international collaboration, that we can look at some things like how much heat is the ocean taking globally, or how much carbon is in the ocean at the moment.
[Image changes to show employees working in a room on the ship looking at a core sample, and then the image changes to show two employees looking at a piece of equipment]
Working with Pacific partners in our research and this particular voyage is really important for two reasons.
[Image changes to show Bea talking to the camera]
We need to understand what their needs for observations are and what they need to know in order to adapt to the changing climate and make the decisions that are going to have an impact in the coming years.
[Image changes to show employees looking down at a core sample of mud in a cut sample pipe, and then the image changes to show a researcher working at a bank of computers]
But we also need to share our knowledge, both in terms of data.
[Image changes to show two researchers looking at a rock from the ocean bed]
The data is as much theirs as it's ours, but we need to share our capability and training is a very important aspect of this voyage.
[Image changes to show Bea talking to the camera]
And we're very lucky to work along with SPC and POGO to engage four trainees for the voyage, two participating in each leg. The two on board at the moment are having a really exciting time.
[Image changes to show Sulueti Savou talking to the camera on board the ship, and text appears: Sulueti Savou, Hydrographic Surveyor, Fiji]
Sulueti Savou: Bula Vinaka. My name is Sulueti Savou and I'm from the Fiji Hydrographic Office.
[Image changes to show a view of the Investigator cutting through the water towards the camera, and then the image changes to show a side view of the Investigator]
I'm part of the RV Investigator and my role on this voyage is working with the CTD sampling team, as well as supporting bathymetric data processing within the hydrographic team.
[Image changes to show Sulueti talking to the camera]
Coming from Fiji, the ocean is part of who we are. It connects our islands, provides food and livelihoods and is deeply connected to our culture and everyday lives. Professionally, the ocean is also my workplace as a hydrographer and nautical cartographer.
[Image changes to show a time lapse of researchers standing around looking at various diagrams on computer screens inside the ship]
I have spent years surveying, mapping, and representing it.
[Image changes to show a time lapse of researchers working around the multicorer]
But being on this voyage has allowed me to understand that there is still so much happening beneath the surface that we cannot see.
[Image changes to show Sulueti talking to the camera]
I'm looking forward to gaining as much practical experience as possible from the scientists, the researchers on board.
[Image changes to show a time lapse of a researcher working with samples inside the ship’s laboratory]
I'm especially interested in seeing how different types of oceanographic data is collected, processed and interpreted.
[Image changes to show Sulueti talking to the camera]
Coming from a hydrographic background, I normally work with the ocean from a navigational and seafloor mapping perspective so this voyage gives me the opportunity to see the ocean from a much broader scientific perspective.
[Image changes to show Maisy Lus talking to the camera and the ocean can be seen in the background, and text appears: Maisy Lus, Marine Scientist, Papua New Guinea]
Maisy Lus: Hi everyone. My name is Maisy Lus. I am from Papua New Guinea. I am a marine scientist and I'm currently working as the National Ocean Acidification Consultant with the Asian Development Bank and currently my role on the voyage is I will be working as a volunteer fellow.
[Image changes to show a time lapse of the researchers working around the multicorer again]
I'll be assisting the team with the work that they'll be doing on board.
[Image changes to show Maisy talking to the camera, and then the image changes to show two employees carrying a submersible camera towards the front of the boat]
I'm excited about the voyage and what I'm most looking forward to is interacting with my peers that will be on board and also the different scientists here, learning from them. I'm also getting that hands on experience.
[Image changes to show Maisy talking to the camera]
I guess that's something that I've always been wanting to do.
[Images move through to show a time lapse of researchers working around the multicorer on the boat, Maisy talking to the camera, and then the boat in icy waters]
I have been involved in deploying and working with oceanographic sensors, but at a smaller scale and I'm really excited to see how this all comes together at a bigger scale on a large research vessel and also working with, you know, bigger teams, seeing how they coordinate with each other and also, you know, the sampling as well as we travel from New Zealand all the way down to almost Antarctica.
[Image changes to show Maisy talking to the camera again]
So again, I'm looking forward to hopefully seeing some icebergs and meeting new people on board and working with them, learning from them. And also, it gives them an opportunity to learn from me as well. So knowledge exchange and, yeah, I'm looking forward to a wonderful life changing learning experience.
[Music plays and the image changes to show a blue screen, and text appears: Why is the Pacific Ocean important to the global climate system?]
[Image changes to show Bea talking to the camera]
Dr Bea Pena-Molino: The Pacific Ocean, it would be fair to say that it is one of the main drivers of our climate.
[Image changes to show a side view of the Investigator moving through the ocean towards the right, and then the image changes to show the ship going towards the left]
When we look at our planet from space, we see a lot of blue and about 50% of that blue is actually the Pacific Ocean.
[Image changes to show a researcher holding an ocean floor sample, and then the image changes to show two researchers looking down at a sample in a cut sample pipe]
And because of that, because it's got that huge area that is in contact with the atmosphere, a lot of what we call climate modes and viability occur here in the Pacific and in particular in the tropical Pacific.
[Image changes to show a view of the multicorer being brought back on to the ship while two researchers watch]
So if we want to understand what the future is going to be, not just in the Pacific but across the globe, keeping an eye on the Pacific is really important.
[Music plays and the image changes to show a blue screen, and text appears: How is climate change affecting the Pacific?]
[Image changes to show Bea talking to the camera again]
The Pacific is one of the most climate-impacted parts of the globe. And the waters around here are warming faster than the global average. Sea levels are rising and a lot of islands around the Pacific are being quite challenged by that. The ocean is also becoming more acidic, which means that a lot of the coastal ecosystems will have a hard time delivering the services they've been doing in the past.
[Image changes to show Sulueti talking to the camera]
Sulueti Savou: I have witnessed changes occurring along our coastline, especially in Fiji.
[Images move through to show a very close view of “National Facility” sign on the side of the boat, researchers attaching equipment to the boat winch, and then Sulueti talking]
Speaking from experience, within our marine environment some coastal communities are increasingly affected by erosion, flooding and changes to the shorelines.
[Image changes to show researchers looking at a sample of the ocean floor sand in a plastic tub, and the camera zooms in on a hand moving the sand sample around]
Working in hydrography has also made me more aware that the marine environment is not static.
[Image changes to show two researchers working in the laboratory pouring a water sample into a funnel, and the water moving up into a plastic bottle]
That is why continuously collecting accurate ocean and hydrographic data is so important.
[Image changes to show Maisy talking to the camera, and then the image changes to show a researcher taking water samples from the multicorer]
Maisy Lus: The world that we live in isn't the same, you know, 20, 30 years ago and in places like Papua New Guinea, you can definitely see how the changes in the ocean have been affecting livelihoods and people in our coastal communities.
[Image changes to show a researcher capping a bottle of sample water, and then the image changes to show Maisy talking to the camera again]
You can see, you know, now in coastal communities, people are, you know, facing the impacts of climate change and climate change is really here in places in Papua New Guinea, especially in remote places and remote islands, you can see that people are facing issues such as scarcity of resources.
[Image changes to show researchers washing out samples in a sieve into a trough on the ship]
Some of them are forced into a situation where they may have to migrate because of sea level rise and the ocean eroding their shorelines.
[Images move through show Maisy talking to the camera, researchers sitting around looking at diagrams on a bank of computers, and water samples being poured into various flasks]
You also have them facing the effects of saltwater intrusion, which is affecting their agriculture and, you know, they can't grow healthy food on their islands and even there's limited access to fresh water and a lot of effort, you know, is spent by people locally just to go out and, you know, fish, fish and look for fish to sell at the markets or, you know, use to earn an income and support their livelihood.
[Image changes to show researchers looking at samples under a microscope, and then the image changes to show Maisy talking to the camera again]
So, yeah, the ocean and, you know, the changes that are currently taking place are affecting, you know, everyone in our community and, you know, not just people on the islands, but, you know, people on the mainland as well.
[Music plays and the image changes to show a blue screen, and text appears: What are the scientists measuring on this voyage]
[Image changes to show a facing view of the Investigator moving through the water]
Dr Bea Pena-Molino: We're gonna collect a whole range of ocean data.
[Images move through to show two researchers watching the multicorer being brought back onto the ship, and then a close view of a sample being poured from the multicorer]
These range from things like temperature, which is probably the thing that most people think when we think about climate, but we'll be looking at things like dissolved carbon and dissolved oxygen.
[Image changes to show Bea talking to the camera]
So the ocean has dissolved oxygen in it, which is very critical for fish, especially for some of the critical fisheries in this area.
[Image changes to show a time lapse view looking down on researchers working around the multicorer and taking samples from it]
We'll be looking at nutrients in the water. And nutrients are critical for phytoplankton that grow in the ocean, that take a lot of carbon from the atmosphere. And we're going to be looking at carbon as well.
[Image changes to show a facing view time lapse of the researchers working around the multicorer]
And one of the very exciting things about this voyage is that we're also collecting what we call environmental eDNA.
[Image changes to show Bea talking to the camera]
And this is a critical tool that is quite recent.
[Image changes to show a facing view of the Investigator moving through the water towards the camera]
And we have data from the last repeat of this voyage so we can assess biodiversity changes through eDNA. So one key aspect of this voyage is the fact that we've been repeating the same observations now for a number of years.
[Image changes to show Bea talking to the camera again]
So ten years ago we were here on Investigator as well. And we're following the same track we followed down there.
[Image changes to show a close view of the equipment on the bridge of the Investigator]
And one of the key aspects of this voyage is to see how things have changed from 2016 to now.
[Image changes to show the sun setting over the ocean]
This project is a very important contribution to our efforts to collect long term data.
[Image changes to show Bea talking to the camera]
When we talk about long term data, we're talking about data that we've accumulated over decades, not just years, but decades. And the key to this is climate evolves often in very slow scales.
[Image changes to show a close view of the multicorer being towed behind the Investigator, and then the image changes to show Bea talking to the camera]
So we need to be able to repeat our observations periodically over a number of decades in order to be able to say whether there is long term change or is it just variability is going to look different from year to year. And in having those long term observations, we're also able to calibrate our models.
[Image changes to show researchers looking at samples on a lab bench]
We know the best way to decide whether your model is going to be a useful tool to predict the future is to see how well they predict our present time.
[Image changes to show a female researcher talking to two other females, and then the image changes to show the researchers taking samples from the multicorer]
So we use these long term records, calibrate our models, and then we can use them to do the projections.
[Music plays and the image changes to show a blue screen, and text appears: What technology is being used on the voyage?]
[Image changes to show Bea talking to the camera again]
We brought with us a pretty wide range of technologies.
[Image changes to show a view of the multicorer being deployed from the back of the ship, and the image shows a crew member making some adjustments to the hatch area]
Technologies are critical. You know, observing the ocean is quite challenging, especially at the depths that we're going to be working on. But we have a few main tools that we'll deploy, putting in the ocean over and over.
[Image changes to show Bea talking to the camera, and then the image changes to show two researchers in conversation]
And some of these allow us to take samples, physical water samples all the way down to the bottom of the ocean.
[Image changes to show eDNA samples in tubes in a tray]
Through, through doing this, we'll be able to take the environmental eDNA samples.
[Image changes to show a close view of a sample tube in a researcher’s hands, and the image shows the researcher labelling the sample]
We'll be able to look at carbon and nutrients amongst other things.
[Image changes to show Bea talking to the camera]
We also have some really good instruments that will allow us to look at the very, very sort of small motions that happen in the ocean that help redistribute the heat and carbon that are put into it. And then we have what we call profiling floats. This is a critical aspect of the work we're doing, because the ship can only be here now and it can't be in multiple places at multiple times.
[Image changes to show a close view of the equipment on the front of the Investigator]
So the floats will allow to extend the record we're collecting beyond the time we are at sea.
[Image changes to show crew members on the deck of the ship, and then the image changes to show researchers around the multicorer on the ship]
For some of the observations we are collecting we’ll have to stop physically. The ship will literally put the brakes on and we’ll put our instruments in the water.
[Image changes to show a sample on a card being held in a hand, and then the image changes to show Bea talking to the camera]
But for some of the things, for some of the technologies we're bringing on board, we actually don't need to stop, so we can collect observations while the ship is moving. So that really amplifies the amount of data that we're able to gather in the time we'll be at sea.
[Music plays and the image changes to show a side view of the Investigator moving through the water]
[Image changes to show a view of the multicorer being deployed from the side hatch of the ship, and plunging into the water]
[Image changes to show a view looking down on the ship in the water, and then the image changes to show a facing view of the ship, and the camera pans along the side of the ship]
[Image changes to show a rear view of the researchers walking towards the front of the ship]
[Image changes to show the multicorer being brought back into the hatch on the ship, and then the image changes to show researchers around the multicorer]
[Music continues to play and ocean waves can be heard, and the image changes to show a facing view of the Investigator moving through the water and the camera pans up]
[Image changes to show a researcher carrying a sample tube along the deck of the ship, and then image changes to show the sample tube being carried into a group of researchers]
[Image changes to show a researcher placing a filter paper at the top of the tube, and then image changes to show ocean sand being trowelled out of a cut sample tube]
[Image changes to show a close view of a specimen being cleaned up, and then image changes to show the researchers with the sample tube on the bench in front of them]
[Image changes to show a view looking down on the Investigator moving through the water, and then image changes to show a view looking down on the deck of the ship]
[Image changes to show a water bird taking flight and moving through the air, and over towards the land]
[Image changes to show researchers picking through specimens by torchlight, and then image changes to show researchers taking notes with specimens in tubs in front of them]
[Image changes to show a researcher looking through a microscope at specimens in a plastic container]
[Image changes to show a researcher looking at a specimen pinned on a board through a microscope]
[Image changes to show a towed camera being deployed from the rear of the ship]
[Image changes to show researchers cutting open a sample tube, and then image changes to show researchers on the ship’s deck looking down]
[Image changes to show a researcher holding a sample tube, and then image changes to show a piece of equipment being cleaned with water]
[Music plays and the image changes to show a blue screen, and text appears: What impact will this research have?]
[Image changes to show Bea talking to the camera]
This research is going to have impact in a number of ways. It's a, it's part of a collaborative effort.
[Image changes to show a group of researchers sitting around looking at various diagrams on a bank of computers on the ship]
There are many nations collecting data such as this one, and we all contribute this data to global repositories.
[Images move through to show two researchers smiling at the camera, researchers deploying equipment from the deck, and a researcher looking at a bank of computers]
So that means that the data is public for anybody to use it and because it’s public, because it's public and it's accessible, that means that opportunities for discoveries and for new science are amplified through the sharing.
[Image changes to show Bea talking to the camera, and then image changes to show a map showing where the ship travels, and then the image changes to show sample tubes in a tray]
So from our, our part of the project, we've been in charge of this particular line for a number of years, but together with all of the other global observations that are collected, we can provide information to things like IPCC reports.
[Image changes to show researchers looking down at a sample]
We can help calibrate our climate models and our weather prediction models and through those have a better idea of what the future is going to look like and be more prepared for it.
[Image changes to show Sulueti talking to the camera]
Sulueti Savou: Good decisions require reliable evidence and accurate data. Whether we are talking about climate change, marine resources or coastal development, even sea floor navigation, we need to understand what is actually happening in our oceans. Scientific observations allow these decision makers to base their actions on evidence rather than assumptions.
[Music plays and the image changes to show a blue screen, and text appears: Why are Pacific perspectives important to ocean and climate science?]
[Image changes to show Sulueti talking to the camera again]
Pacific researchers bring important perspectives because the ocean is not distant from us.
[Image changes to show a view of the ocean under a grey sky]
It's a part of us and it's part of our everyday lives.
[Image changes to show equipment being deployed by researchers from the deck of the boat, and then image changes to show Sulueti talking to the camera]
We bring scientific and technical knowledge, but we also bring an understanding of our islands, communities and local environments. Pacific people are experiencing many ocean and climate changes directly.
[Image changes to show a side rear and then a rear view of the Investigator moving away from the camera on the ocean]
So our researchers should not only participate in international science, but also have a strong voice in shaping the research, the research questions and also the solutions that can affect our region.
[Image changes to show Maisy talking to the camera]
Maisy Lus: I guess for Pacific Islanders, the one thing that I like about us is that sense of community that you get. I guess that's something that's quite unique and different from other parts of the world and just the different cultures. So in the Pacific you have the Melanesian culture, the Polynesian culture and the Micronesian culture. And within these different cultures I guess one thing that holds all of us together is that sense of community.
[Image changes to show researchers looking at sample tubes, and then image changes to show a researcher shaking small plastic tubs of pink liquid, and the camera zooms in]
And you will see that in our research, even though it's scientific, it's always tied to the community. And then you have our traditional knowledge and culture.
[Image changes to show a towed camera on the deck of the ship, and then image changes to show Maisy talking to the camera]
So apart from just, you know, just doing the science and collecting the data, I think what's different in the Pacific is we try to see how that science and that data connects to the community so that something meaningful is, you know, brought out of that.
[Image changes to show Sulueti talking to the camera]
Sulueti Savou: This is actually my first research voyage outside Fiji waters. So it's a completely new experience and very exciting.
[Image changes to show a view of an island in the ocean, and then image changes to show a winch operating on the ship]
It has been challenging at times, especially adjusting to being at sea for such a long period.
[Image changes to show a researcher working on a piece of equipment on the ship]
But it has also been an incredible learning opportunity.
[Image changes to show a male cutting open a sample pipe]
I'm working alongside people from different scientific backgrounds, and seeing opportunities.
[Image changes to show Sulueti talking to the camera, and then image changes to show the camera panning over the deck of the Investigator]
I hope to gain knowledge, practical skills and exposure, mainly exposure to different areas of ocean science that I can take back home with me.
[Image changes to show a female measuring something on the boat deck]
I also want to build connections with other international researchers.
[Image changes to show a rear view of a researcher looking out over the sea towards an island, and then image changes to show Sulueti talking to the camera]
Ultimately, I hope that I learn here, what I learn here can contribute to strengthening the ocean science and hydrographic capability in Fiji.
[Music plays and the image changes to show a blue screen, and text appears: What message would you like delegates to take away?]
[Image changes to show Sulueti talking to the camera, and then the image changes to show a side view of the Investigator facing to the left on the ocean]
My message would be that the Pacific may consist of small island country, but we are part of a very large ocean region.
[Image changes to show two female researchers on the deck looking towards the ocean, and then image changes to show sun’s rays over an island in the ocean]
So what happens to the ocean directly affects us as a small island countries in the Pacific.
[Images move through to show Sulueti talking to the camera, a researcher looking through binoculars, and a researcher looking at sample rocks whilst another photographs them]
It also, also affects our future and voyages like this show why continued investments in ocean observations and scientific research, technology and training for Pacific researchers is very important.
[Images move through to show a group of researchers in conversation on the deck of the ship, two researchers looking through binoculars at the ocean, and Sulueti talking]
For me personally, being here demonstrates what can happen when Pacific professionals are given opportunities to participate in voyages like this with other international researchers.
[Images move through to show researchers looking at specimens in a blue tub, researchers looking at specimens around a table, and a close view of a sea creature]
We can learn from others, but we also have knowledge and perspectives to contribute. The Pacific should not only be a place for research and where research is conducted, but also people from the Pacific should be part, be part of the research.
[Image changes to show Maisy talking to the camera]
Maisy Lus: Climate change is not just a global issue. It's already affecting people in our communities across the Pacific. And we need strong global action.
[Music plays and the image changes to show a white screen, and text appears: CSIRO, Australia’s National Science Agency]
[Image changes to show text on a blue screen: We thank all our voyage partners and collaborators including – Pacific Community (SPC), Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO), Australian Antarctic Program Partnership (AAPP), Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS), Earth Sciences New Zealand (ESNZ), Minderoo Foundation, GO-BGC (US Argo), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), With support from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), For further information visit www.csiro.au/mnf]
