Welcome to my journey to the Weddell Sea in Antarctica!
The Weddell Sea Expedition 2019 will bring together leading international glaciologists, marine biologists, oceanographers and marine archaeologists on S.A. Agulhas II, one of the largest and most modern polar research vessels in the world.
The expedition goals are to investigate the ice shelves around the Weddell Sea and, in particular, the Larsen C Ice Shelf from which a giant iceberg broke off in July 2017. The purposes of investigating these ice areas is to document the rich and little-studied marine life of the western Weddell Sea ecosystem and to attempt to locate and survey the wreck of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship "Endurance", which was trapped and crushed by the ice and sank in the Weddell Sea in 1915.
This extraordinary 45-day scientific expedition will attempt to navigate a way through the heavy sea ice, freezing temperatures and harsh weather of this extreme environment, in order to solve unanswered questions about one of the most remote areas of our planet. By uncovering vital new scientific data, the expedition hopes to improve our understanding of the Weddell Sea and to use this new knowledge to contribute to the protection of the region, as well as to inspire young people about science, engineering and technology.
