AUT academics on groundbreaking voyage

AUT academics on groundbreaking voyage

Dr Marta Ribó, a marine geologist and researcher at AUT's School of Science, has set sail on an exciting scientific expedition to Tonga.

Marta recently boarded Australia's advanced ocean research vessel, RV Investigator, as a guest scientist and is part of an international team further investigating the dramatic eruption of the Hunga volcano in January 2022 - one of the most powerful volcanic events of the 21st century. Leading the trip is the University of Tasmania's Associate Professor Rebecca Carey.

The Hunga eruption caused widespread devastation both above and below the sea, triggering tsunamis and sending ash high into the atmosphere. Yet much remains unknown about the extent of the destruction on the seafloor and the processes of ecosystem recovery in the region. The voyage aims to shed light on exactly that.

"The Hunga eruption offers a rare opportunity to study the immediate and long-term impacts of a major volcanic event on the seafloor and surrounding ocean environment," says Marta. "By mapping the seafloor and collecting sediment samples and physical oceanographic data, we hope to gain insight into how such systems respond and recover."

Joining her on the voyage is PhD candidate Hannah St Louis, who recently began her doctoral studies at AUT. This expedition will mark Hannah's first time aboard a research vessel of this scale - and a significant step in building her academic career.

During the voyage, Hannah will work on high-resolution seafloor mapping and hydrographic surveys, collecting vertical profiles of temperature, salinity, and several other oceanographic variables to help characterise conditions around the submerged volcano. These data will form the foundation of her research into the region's post-eruption dynamics.

"The chance to be part of such a mission so early in my PhD is incredible," says Hannah. "I'm looking forward to learning from world-class researchers and establishing collaborations that will be vital for my future work."

With a unique combination of seafloor mapping, geophysical surveys, and marine sediments and oceanographic sampling, the RV Investigator voyage is set to provide key insights into one of Earth's most recent and significant natural events - and offer a launchpad for the next generation of marine scientists.

This research is supported by a grant of sea time on RV Investigator from Australia's Marine National Facility, operated by CSIRO, Australia's national science agency.

Useful Links

• Study science at AUT
• Marta Ribó Gené's Academic Profile