Deployment: IN2019_V03

Additional voyage details, reports, data, and metadata are available from CSIRO at https://www.marine.csiro.au/data/trawler/survey_details.cfm?survey=IN2019_V03 

A voyage summary and description of outcomes are available at https://mnf.csiro.au/en/Voyages/IN2019_V03

Summary:
Research voyage to the Indian Ocean to conduct an extensive deep ocean survey in support of the 2nd International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE-2).

Sixty years ago, researchers aboard vessels from 14 countries combined their efforts to explore the largest unknown area on Earth, the deep waters and seabed of the Indian Ocean. This world-first expedition generated a wealth of information and provided a baseline that formed the foundation of our scientific understanding about the Indian Ocean basin.

This voyage is a repeat of the 110°E line survey from 1963, which was completed by HMAS Diamantina visiting stations on voyages undertaken every six weeks for a year. RV Investigator will visit 20 stations along a 3000 km transect off the coast of Western Australia during this one month voyage. This will be an integrated whole-of-ocean ecosystem study that includes physical processes, biogeochemistry, nitrogen sources, microbes, primary production, zooplankton, mesopelagic fishes, food webs and whales. The voyage is a major part of Australia's contribution to the UNESCO-led IIOE-2 mission and will provide data to examine the effects of climate change on the waters of the Indian Ocean.

The voyage includes only the primary research project but involves significant international collaboration.

The science team on this voyage includes 40 participants from 18 institutions - including international participation - as well as scientists and postgraduate students from seven Australian universities.