Floats

Hi there! My name is Greta Shum and I'm asking, "What's going on in the Southern Ocean?" That's the question that's bugging scientists all over the world--and not just oceanographers. Climate scientists have realized that the Southern Ocean, the little-known ocean surrounding Antarctica, is a major part of the story of climate change. And the  Southern Ocean Carbon and Climate Observations and Modeling Project (or SOCCOM) has set out to study it! It's very possible that you haven't heard of the Southern Ocean. If that's the case, here's a map: And that trail of markers is where I'll be going this winter--but not alone! I'll be on a boat with a team of scientists, who will be using new technology to observe this amazing place... but I'll get to that later. First let's talk about the Southern Ocean! What's important about this particular ocean is how unique and powerful it is. Because of its location, the Southern Ocean is