For cetaceans, sound is of utmost importance. Every day, it is the job of three resident Marine Mammal Observers (MMO) to ensure that there are no species of concern within a five-hundred-metre perimeter of the R/V Marion Dufresne. If they do spot a marine mammal, they immediately cancel the air-gun operations until the animal is far outside the danger zone. Today we follow Erwan Guillon through a typical day as an MMO.
Earth Observatory Blog
11 Oct 2017
Our most recent documentary short film, ‘People of the Forest: Orang Rimba,’ premiered at the Singapore Eco Film Festival in early September 2017. The short offers a brief but intimate look at the lives of the Orang Rimba, a minority group of a few thousand nomadic tribespeople who live throughout the forests of Jambi province in Sumatra, Indonesia.
10 Oct 2017
Hear from Filomena de Jesus (Timore L’este) and Marie-Laure Fournasson (France), about their experiences as participants in the Floating Summer School programme on board the R/V Marion Dufresne
09 Oct 2017
Albert Einstein once said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” We should take his word for it, especially when it comes to science. As I walk around the Science Control Room on board the R/V Marion Dufresne, I witness a small army of experts keeping close tabs on endless spreadsheets, running equations or measuring maps with religious precision. It seems counterintuitive to think that passion and imagination are driving this research, yet they are.
06 Oct 2017
Subduction zones are the most violent collisions on Earth. They are so powerful that even scientists who are familiar with the dynamics of plate tectonics are humbled by images of the aftermath.
05 Oct 2017
As a Research Associate at the Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS), a large part of my work concerns studying the gaseous emissions from Mount Mayon, in the Philippines. In collaboration with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), we are working to identify the composition of the volcano’s plume, which can help us better understand what is going on beneath the surface.
04 Oct 2017
One week into the MIRAGE II expedition, the Marion Dufresne French research vessel is navigating its way to the Wharton Basin in the northeast corner of the Indian Ocean. Marion Dufresne is 120 metres long and weighs more than 10,000 tonnes when fully loaded. There are 59 cabins on board, as well as a hospital, pharmacy, conference centre, library, dining room, gym, and more.
03 Oct 2017
Follow the progress of MIRAGE II between 25th September and 20th October 2017 on the EOS blog, and spread the word using #MIRAGEcruise.
02 Oct 2017
Five centuries ago, Leonardo da Vinci noticed fossilised sea creatures encrusted in the rocks around his house. He began to wonder whether, at some point, the mountains had been underwater. Da Vinci was right of course, but he would not be around to hear scientists explain why it was possible. Plate tectonics, now considered the unifying theory of geology, was born in 1968. Its birth was not easy and was spared no drama.
