ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
James Cook University Townsville
Queensland 4811 Australia
Phone: 61 7 4781 4000
Email: info@coralcoe.org.au
he Perth Canyon expedition
The Perth Canyon is a deep ocean canyon just 50 kilometres off the West Australian coastline near Perth, yet it remains largely unexplored. A group of acclaimed scientists, led by Professor Malcolm McCulloch from the University of Western Australia and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies will join with the Schmidt Ocean Institute to be among the first to explore the vast canyon – which is about the size of the USA’s Grand Canyon.
The underwater canyon formed over tens of millions of years and extends from the continental shelf edge of Western Australia to depths of more than four kilometres to the abyssal sea floor. Major up-swelling of essential nutrients in the canyon makes it a global marine hotspot, attracting blue whales and other large fauna that migrate to the waters seasonally to feed. Despite being so close to Perth and Fremantle, little is known about life in its deep abyss.
The expedition runs from March 1 to March 10, 2015.
Click here to watch the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s expedition video in real time…
Meet the team
The Perth Canyon expedition is led by Professor Malcolm McCulloch and includes researchers from the University of Western Australia, the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, the Western Australian Museum, CSIRO and the Institute of Marine Sciences in Italy.
Professor Malcolm McCulloch discusses the expedition on ABC Local Radio Perth.
Professor McCulloch explains more about the expedition.
ABC News story – Perth Canyon research could provide crucial climate change information, researchers say…
The Conversation – we are finally learning the Perth Canyon’s deep secrets…
Expedition blogs – Schmidt Ocean Institute
Blog post 2 – First impressions, exploring RV Falkor… read more
Blog post 3 – We’re at sea!… read more
Blog post 4 – Everything you wanted to know about ROV Comanche… read more
Blog post 5 – The secret world of deep sea corals… read more
Blog post 6 – A first glimpse of diversity of life in the Perth Canyon… read more
Blog post 7 – Amazing life one mile below the surface… read more
Blog post 8 – living at the edge – An acidifying ocean… read more
Blog post 9 – A deep sea love story… read more
Blog post 10 – Perth Canyon, a marine hot spot in a desert ocean… read more
Blog post 11 – Coral skeletons as archives of ocean change… read more
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Partner Research Institutions
ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
James Cook University Townsville
Queensland 4811 Australia
Phone: 61 7 4781 4000
Email: info@coralcoe.org.au
