Chelsea Bekemeier, a climate scientist based at Colorado State University, has embarked on a critical research expedition to the Southern Ocean. Even more exciting, this voyage is intended to collect crucial data that would help improve the next generation of global climate models. The Southern Ocean features some of the cleanest air on the planet, an environment conducive to studying cloud formation and behavior. This kind of research is tremendously important for climate change understanding at larger scales.
Over the course of nine weeks, Bekemeier journeyed aboard the Australian Antarctic Division’s RSV Nuyina, venturing to Denman Glacier—one of East Antarctica’s largest glaciers. The nearest metropolitan area to this remote, Indigenous-controlled research location is Hobart, nearly 5,000 km away. This year’s expedition is a shining example of an institutionwide dedication to climate research. Bekemeier and her team are now on a mission to reveal the signature features of clouds in this largely untouched environment.
Importance of Clean Air Research
The Southern Ocean is one of the cloudiest regions on Earth. Its clouds are incredibly unique compared to those above land. Clouds in the Southern Ocean are very productive in a clean and nutrient-rich environment. Unlike clouds on land, they are generally unspoiled by pollution and dust. This distinction is what makes the Southern Ocean such an important natural laboratory for climate scientists.
Bekemeier’s research focuses on understanding the composition of these clouds, which play a crucial role in regulating the Earth’s climate. Clouds insulate the earth and thus change daytime and nighttime temperatures.
“Clouds are constantly doing this job of balancing the incoming sunlight,” – Chelsea Bekemeier
She illustrated the importance of the Southern Ocean to understanding future climate projections. As Bekemeier puts it, “It really is important to capture the Southern Ocean and these clouds because … they are very pivotal for the future climate of the entire planet.”
Bekemeier’s research is further supported by work done by Dr. Ruhi Humphries. As a current research scientist with CSIRO, she continues to study the clean air over the Southern Ocean. Collectively, they seek to improve understanding of how this strange, new wilderness connects to and affects climate systems around the globe.
Challenges of Remote Research
Getting to the Southern Ocean is not an easy task. Bekemeier faced a grueling travel schedule that included three separate flights totaling more than 24 hours just to reach Hobart. Once they’ve boarded the RSV Nuyina, the crew can look forward to a week-long voyage back to land from their research site. This ambitious timeline is contingent on this happening.
Bekemeier’s participation in this expedition was supported through funding provided by the US National Science Foundation (NSF). During three weeks at sea, she and her colleague Dr. Jakob Pernov doggedly recorded data on cloud composition.
“The Southern Ocean is very understudied, mainly because of how difficult and remote it is. We’re hoping to change that,” – Chelsea Bekemeier
This enthusiasm speaks to the importance of continued discovery and study of this fascinating area, which is so vital to this region’s history.
The Broader Impact of Climate Research
In her statement on the bill’s introduction, Bekemeier had a sobering take on the state of U.S. climate science. In particular, she underscored how direly underfunded and unsupported Antarctic research is.
“I am really devastated to see what is happening to climate science and science in general in the United States and the gutting of the US Antarctic program,” – Chelsea Bekemeier
She’s undeterred by these hurdles and continues to be excited about working together with her fellow international colleagues. “I’m grateful that we have colleagues that can continue this work because we might not be able to do it in our own country,” she noted.
Dr. Humphries joined her to further elaborate on her worries of the global interconnectedness in environmental hazards.
“From an environmental perspective, the atmosphere is one atmosphere. It doesn’t care if you’re in Australia, or the US, or whatever, it’s all interconnected,” – Dr. Ruhi Humphries
This viewpoint emphasizes the crucial need for unified production and pursuit in climate research over international borders.
