23 Sep 2013

NIWA scientists heading to Antarctica

11:07 am on 23 September 2013

A group of NIWA scientists will spend a month camping on Antarctic sea ice while studying marine ecology and the effect global warming is having on the ocean.

NIWA says more than a dozen scientists will head to Antarctica for the summer research season.

Seven will be conducting marine ecology experiments under the ice at a coastal site in McMurdo Sound.

Marine ecologist Drew Lohrer will be diving under the ice. He says it is important to understand the changes in seawater temperature and ocean acidification caused by increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Another NIWA team will measure the ozone hole over the Antarctic.

The expedition leaves on 23 October.