The unknown oceanVÆDDEREN’s researchers are currently engaged in the fertile waters off the coasts of Chile and Peru. The Pacific Ocean covers around one third of the earth’s surface and holds many secrets within its vast expanse.
Dato 27.2.2007
“We know more about the surface of Mars than we can profess to know about the earth’s waters", says Bente Lomstein, associate professor at Aarhus University. A member of the Danish Expedition Foundation’s board, Bente also belongs to the 25-strong research team that works on a Galathea project entitled “Geomicrobiology of oceanic oxygen deficiency zones” – GOODZ for short.
Marvels on board
The oxygen-deficient zones which are under scrutiny begin some 100 metres below the surface of the sea and extend downwards. Among the remarkable elements of this special eco-system is a giant bacterium known as Thiomargarita, which has been encountered only three times before. It was first discovered off the coast of Namibia in 1999, later in the Gulf of Mexico and a third time in Tokyo Bay. The bacterium is about as large as a fly and easily visible. However it has never before been observed in waters off South America.
Another particularly exciting catch, which could prove still more sensational, is that of a marine ragworm measuring a couple of millimetres. The worm was found in a water sample from an area of the ocean off Peru which does not contain any oxygen at all. In theory, the worm should not be able to survive there – simply because it could not breathe. “I have to surmise that the worm breathes nitrate instead of oxygen. If I can prove this, we have something quite marvellous”, says biologist Lars Peter Nielsen of Aarhus University in an interview with the newspaper Politiken. .
Royal visits
Two royal visits will be made to the expedition ship during the forthcoming leg from the Galapagos Islands via the Panama Canal to the US Virgin Islands (formerly the Danish West Indies). HRH Crown Prince Frederik, who is Royal Patron of the Danish Expedition Foundation, boards VÆDDEREN at the Galapagos Islands and continues to Panama. Here he will be relieved by His Royal Highness the Prince Consort who will disembark in Charlotte Amalie on the island of St Thomas.
The Crown Prince is an experienced expedition member, having taken part in two expeditions to Central Asia in 1986 and 1990.The Crown Prince also made a 2,800 km journey by dog sled across North Greenland, Expedition Sirius 2000.
Another link to the Danish royal family was Prince Axel, nephew of Frederik VIII. Prince Axel played a role in the planning of the second Galathea expedition in 1950-52 in his capacity as chairman of the Danish Deep Sea expedition.
So far, so good
The Danish Expedition Foundation is taking stock of the scientific and communicative activities undertaken so far. Of course, it is too early to evaluate the collective effect of the research findings. A large part of the material gathered on the journey has still to be analysed over the coming months and years. Feedback from researchers has been generally very positive with several discoveries which are already seen as promising.
The Ministry of Education is also pleased with the response to the project in schools and colleges. Media reports have been comprehensive, covering the expedition from a variety of angles.
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