Ocean Science collaboration

At The Ocean Race we want to do all we can to support and protect the seas. An important element of this is using our unique race - which goes through some of the most remote parts of the planet that are rarely accessible for scientific research - to gather valuable information about the health of the ocean. This isn’t something that we can do alone, our onboard science programme relies on our amazing teams, who play a key role in helping to improve understanding about our marine world and the threats it faces. 

The data the sailors collect provides leading science organisations across the world with valuable information, in real-time, that helps to paint a more accurate picture of what is happening to the ocean and the important role it plays in maintaining a healthy planet.

These measurements aim to improve understanding of two of the biggest threats to the health of the seas: the impact of climate change and plastic pollution. Data also fed, and continues to feed, into global weather reports and revealed valuable insights into life beneath the waves. The data collected included:

• Indicators of climate change: Two boats, 11th Hour Racing Team and Team Malizia, carried OceanPacks, which take water samples to measure levels of carbon dioxide, oxygen, salinity and temperature, providing insights about the impact of climate change on the ocean. Trace elements, including iron, zinc, copper and manganese, were also captured for the first time. 

• Plastic pollution: GUYOT environnement – Team Europe and Holcim – PRB took water samples throughout the race to test for microplastics. The analysis will reveal the amount of microplastics throughout the route and scientists will also study the samples to determine which plastic product the fragments originated from (for example, a bottle or carrier bag).

• Meteorological data: The entire fleet had onboard weather sensors to measure wind speed, wind direction and air temperature. Teams also deployed drifter buoys in the Southern Ocean, a critical part of the ocean where there are data gaps. The buoys capture measurements on an ongoing basis to grow understanding about how currents and the climate are changing. The meteorological data helps improve weather forecasts and are particularly valuable for predicting extreme weather events, as well as revealing insights on longer-term climate trends. 

• Ocean Biodiversity: Biotherm collaborated with the Tara Ocean Foundation to trial an experimental research project to study ocean biodiversity during the Race. An onboard automated microscope recorded images of marine phytoplankton on the ocean surface, which were later analysed to provide insights on phytoplankton diversity in the ocean, along with biodiversity, food webs and the carbon cycle. 

See more info here: https://www.theoceanrace.com/en/rwp/news/13184_The-Ocean-Race-to-collect-more-data-about-the-environment-than-any-sporting-event-in-the-world