The world’s scientific community is a step closer to understanding the Southern Ocean’s role in regulating the global climate, with the release of the first batch of quality-controlled oceanographic data gathered by seals.

The data, produced by a team of scientists including researchers from the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre (ACE CRC) in Hobart, has been published in Nature Scientific Data.

IMAS/ACE CRC oceanographer, Dr Guy Williams, said that oceanographic sensors attached to the seals have returned an enormous volume of data from seasons and regions that have previously been impossible to sample.

“This data fills in a number of large gaps in our understanding of Southern Ocean circulation and its interaction with the global climate,” said Dr Williams.

“It will provide oceanographers around the world with a vital set of observations for understanding the fundamental forces that drive the global climate.”

“By collecting data on the temperature, depth, salinity and location of the water, oceanographers have been able to make important findings about the interplay of ocean currents, sea ice and the polar climate.”

“Using this data we have been able to determine an elusive source of Antarctic Bottom Water, the cold and highly saline water that fills the global ocean and drives its circulation.”

“Elephant seals have proven themselves to be excellent ocean samplers.”

“The animals travel vast distances and dive to depths of up to two kilometres, returning invaluable data from the vast and often inhospitable Southern Ocean around Antarctica.”

“The seals can forage in amongst the sea ice and reach places where our research vessels and remote underwater sensors have been unable to reach in the middle of winter.”