Ocean observations

There are many ways to observe the ocean. On one extreme, one can collect in-situ samples in person, from ships or submarines. Sampling the ocean this way typically requires large, often international, field expeditions. Another alternative is to conduct laboratory experiments designed to test hypotheses about fluid motion or biogeochemical reactions. These can be done in the laboratory, for example using flumes, wave tanks or chemical reactors. Somewhere in-between these two extremes are sensors, which can be autonomous and deployed for long periods of time.

Observations being the key to scientific excellence, Imperial College researchers from all departments are active on all these fronts. Some conduct field expeditions near Antarctica, in the Arctic, or in the tropics, while others specialise in developing autonomous sensing and sampling technology, map the seafloor or conduct laboratory experiments.

Specialised facilities include the hydrodynamics laboratory in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the mass spectrometry and isotopic geochemistry facility in the Department of Earth Sciences and Engineering.