Scientific schooner Tara bids farewell to Chile at the end of its Antarctic expedition

On March 1st, the Governor of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica Jorge Flies together with the researcher of the Center for Mathematical Modeling (CMM) and co-director of the Microbiome-CEODOS Mission Alejandro Maass visited the schooner TARA in its last stop in South America before continuing with the expedition Mission Microbiome-AtlantEco to the African coasts. On this occasion, the Governor was able to learn more about the philosophy of TARA and the realization of the Chilean part of the Microbiome Mission, the CEODOS expedition, and the exploration in Antarctica.

The scientific schooner landed in Punta Arenas after a month of voyage -which took her to the Weddell Sea-, touching this port for the second time before continuing with the Microbiome Mission, an expedition organized by the Tara Oceans Foundation together with more than 35 scientific institutions in different countries.

The Mission Microbiome-CEODOS obtained over 1,500 samples that will allow the characterization of environmental conditions and the genomics of plankton biodiversity in the Chilean coasts between Punta Arenas and Iquique, and in particular in relevant areas of the Chilean Patagonia. “The program established by CEODOS seeks to deepen this study every 5 years and with it we want to be a relevant contribution in the fight against climate change and pollution of the oceans in an interdisciplinary way,” said Alejandro Maass.

 

Scientific adventure in Antarctica (video – in French)

 

2 weeks in Antarctica (video – in French)

 

Photo credits: Gobierno Regional de Magallanes y de la Antártica Chilena

Video credits: Fondation Tara Océan

Posted on Mar 8, 2022 in News