Research ship RV Sonne. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
A state-of-the-art German research ship is giving local scientists new insight into the ocean floor, scouting underwater volcanos and coral reefs around the motū.
During a layover in Wellington this week - to swap out scientists and equipment - guests were welcomed on-board to hear about the voyage and more coming up.
RV Sonne, meaning "sun", has just got back from a month at sea surveying coral reefs from the little-explored Colville Ridge, to the Graveyard sea-mounts on Chatham Rise and the Fiords of Southland.
Marine biologist at Niwa Dr Kareen Schnabel said the technology on board allowed them to see things in detail like never before.
The Ocean Floor Observation System - or OFOS. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
On deck, she pointed out a large cube, more than a metre high and made up of metal pipes and plastic, called the Ocean Floor Observation System - or OFOS.
It was capable of working at depths of 4000 metres, towed along by the ship. On their most recent mission, it reached depths of 1200m.
With the footage it captured, scientists could analyse the abundance and distribution of animals and plants on the sea floor.
Schnabel said similar surveys had been carried out for the past 20 years, and comparing the results was useful for scientists.
Another piece of equipment at their disposal was the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), supplied by MARUM - Centre for Marine Environmental Sciences, which powered itself along the sea floor and captured even more detailed photographs and video.
Marine biologist at Niwa Dr Kareen Schnabel. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
"What really did blow my mind was the resolution," Schnabel said.
"The level of accuracy and the high definition footage and the zoom capability are something we do not have. We have a general understanding of these communities... but we do not have the capability to look at them in such a fine scale."
Chief scientist for the voyage just gone Dr André Freiwald wanted to better understand the geology and biology of coral reefs - especially the effect of human disturbances.
"We know from Niwa that some sea-mounts were totally fished and destroyed by bottom trawling gear, and we saw it and it was desperate. But next to it, we saw unfished sea-mounts, with real pristine coral reefs with all the primary associated community. That was mind blowing."
But there had not been many signs of recolonisation, he said, with indications it was taking decades for corals to begin growing back in damaged areas.
The OFOS is capable of working at depths of 4000 metres. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
On the bridge of the ship, second mate Reese Osta explained they were the testing ground for some exciting new technology.
The new dynamic positioning system allowed the ship to park itself, and then keep itself in position with the help of sensors and thrusters.
But not all of it was popular with the crew, he said, pointing out a touchscreen on a bench - the ship's new digital logbook.
Behind him sat the ship's traditional method, a paper book and a pen.
"Not everybody's a fan of it," he said of the digital addition. A paper book was tradition, and he found information like the weather and the ship's position stuck in his brain better when he manually recorded it.
Up another flight of stairs, in the crow's nest, meteorologist Patrick Suter had the best view on the ship.
Meteorologist Patrick Suter. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Not every ship had its own meteorologist, usually relying on local weather forecasts, but Suter said there was nothing like being there.
Did he prefer calm to storm?
"I think every meteorologist prefers stormy weather," he said, laughing.
But chief scientist on the next expedition Sebastian Krastel, of Kiel University, cut in: "And every scientist prefers the other thing!"
The next departure will see a fresh batch of scientists heading to the Palliser and Pegasus canyons, on another month-long voyage.
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