Scientists have set off early Wednesday on a mission to explore the depths of the Indian Ocean, one of the planet's last great unexplored frontiers.
Here's a look at what the Nekton Mission hopes to achieve and why the people of the Seychelles, the first stop on this three-year expedition, are excited about its launch.The expedition is led by the Britain-based Nekton, an independent, non-profit research institute that works with the University of Oxford to increase scientific understanding of the oceans.
Scientists will survey underwater life by diving into the "twilight zone" below depths of 30 metres that the tropical sun barely reaches. Using two crewed submarines and a remotely operated submersible they'll be able to document organisms and habitats up to 500 metres deep, while sensors will offer a glimpse of depths of up to 2,000 metres .Little is known about this watery world.
By conducting at least 50 "first descents" to map the depths around the Seychelles, scientists hope to better understand the marine ecosystem and the way this vast body of water is changing due to global warming. President Danny Faure visited the ship last week, calling the expedition "a historical moment" for the nation. "The scientific community, the academia, the children around the world in schools, they see what's happening" to the climate, he said. "Why can't other governments see this? Are they blind?"
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