[Marine Technology] The Maiden Voyage of "Ocean Research V" Shows Taiwan's Capacity for Marine Technology

[Marine Technology] The Maiden Voyage of "Ocean Research V" Shows Taiwan's Capacity for Marine Technology (Chinese Version)

NAR Labs Newsbrief（2014/04/26）The first own-built ocean research vessel, "Ocean Research V", which is a 2700-ton multi-functional, ocean-going research vessel, made its maiden voyage on February 18, 2013, after two years of construction under the supervision of Taiwan Ocean Research Institute, NAR Labs, and six months of equipment trials on the sea. Its first voyage headed for South Ocean of Taiwan, which is the most resourceful sea area of Taiwan's, and focused on clean energy and carbon absorption. The 19-day voyage in raging sea rounded up sound and safe in Kaohsiung Port at eleven o'clock on March 8 with tremendous results.

Ocean Research V has the capacity to receive real-time image data from ocean monitoring satellite and hence it can help with understanding the marine ecological differences. With the data received from the satellite and the hydrological detector, Ocean Research V can identify and record the internal waves that occur rarely in the world but frequently in South Ocean area. The vessel has successfully examined the effect of the waves, especially the impact of their transmission on the upwelling mixed effect, which consequently results in the difference of the reef coverage rates between the west and east part of Dongsha Atoll, and the impact on marine ecology. The findings also enhance the understanding and evaluation of the construction of offshore platform and military acts such as anti-submarine warfare and undersea tout.

With the fine performance of Ocean Research V's wave-resistance, the research team also finds that extreme climate actually makes the ocean a super carbon-absorber and greatly enhances its resources incubation. With the data captured by its carbon-dioxide monitor and the collector of the suspending organic carbon particles, in regular weather the surface of South Ocean can absorb 260,000 tons of carbon dioxide, which amounts about 35% of the total carbon dioxide emission of Taiwan Island.

Surprisingly, the team finds that in storms with the wind speed at 15 m/s, the carbon absorption of the same sea area reaches nine times of the volume in regular weather, which amounts to 328 of the total carbon dioxide emission of Taiwan Island. The findings suggest that, beside of the fact that the South Ocean in winter has the ability of carbon absorption, the extreme weather condition can reduplicate the absorption.

On the other side, under the influence of internal waves and the north-east wind, the vertical mixture of the sea water in South Ocean would be accelerated and this results in the uplifting of the nutritious deep ocean water to the surface increasing the breeding of livings. This not only helps with the carbon absorption, but also make South Ocean the second major fishing ground in Taiwan.


Related Historical Messages:
[Marine Technology] Taiwan-built Ocean Research Vessel Officially Launched 2012/08/12
[Sci-tech Policy] NARL Proposes Five Annual Focuses in 2012 2012/02/06
[Marine Technology] “Ocean Researcher V” to Enhance the Level of Taiwan's Ocean Research 2011/06/12


Further Information:
NAR Labs Newsbrief 2013/04/26

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National Science Council International Cooperation Sci-Tech Newsbrief
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