An expedition on the ship "Cabo de Hornos" towards the waters of the Strait of Magellan

A scientific expedition leads a study on climate change in the “most parts of the world” waters

• The mission set several goals in front of it, and it succeeded in achieving some of them.

  AFP

• A marine biologist who monitors the movement of whales.

  AFP

• One of the scientists sucks a quantity of water for examination.

  AFP

• They collect soil and grass samples from a net to find out what life is like and the temperature in the depths of the water.

  AFP

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A scientific expedition in the far south of Chile is trying to measure the global impact of climate change in the waters of "the farthest corners of the world" and is calling for "concrete decisions" to save the oceans.

After being postponed for a year due to the “Covid-19” epidemic, the expedition on board the “Cabo de Hornos” research ship of the Chilean Navy crossed the waters of the Strait of Magellan and the Beagle Channel between Chile and the Patagonia region in southern Argentina, for nine days at the end of December.

This area in the state of Magayanes is of particular importance due to the low acidity, and the low percentage of salt and calcium in the water in which it is submerged, compared to other seas and oceans in the world, especially in the shallower regions.

Thus, the study of these waters is necessary, as it allows understanding the conditions that are expected to appear in other marine systems in the coming decades as a large number of glaciers melt in Patagonia, which is pouring large amounts of fresh water into the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

"We don't know how living organisms, especially microorganisms," said the mission's scientific officer, Jose Luis Iriarte, with an increase in the average temperature on Earth.

The mission stopped at 14 stations where water samples were taken from different depths of up to 200 metres.

Also, soil samples were taken at a depth that sometimes exceeded 300 meters, in addition to withdrawing quantities of algae and mollusks.

“We are the voice of what nature cannot say,” says biochemist Wilson Castillo, 24, who is one of the 19 scientists on board the flight. ».

The scientific expedition paid special attention to the "red tide" waves, which are the proliferation of toxic algae that kill fish and whales and produce toxins dangerous to mollusks.

These waves were first recorded in Magayanes half a century ago, and have since been responsible for the deaths of 23 people, and the poisoning of more than 200 others.

The issue of whales approaching was at the heart of the scientific mission's priorities.

Marine biologist Rodrigo Hooke spent hours watching the horizon, looking for whales and when he spotted he launched a small motorized boat to see them.

His goal was to try to collect her stools to study possible changes to her diet.

But this difficult task failed.

Before returning to their laboratories, the scientists stressed the need to take political measures to confront the climate emergency.

Iriarte warned that "regional plans to adapt to climate change and limit its consequences are outdated, compared to what is currently happening in nature."

• The mission stopped at 14 stations where water samples were taken from different depths of up to 200 meters.

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