March 15, 2002
UVI Students and Scientists Conduct Research in the Antillean Passage
Ten Scientists and Students from the University of the Virgin Islands Anegada Climate Tracers Study (ACTS) program are in Barbados researching the flow between the Atlantic and the Caribbean in the Antillean Passages. The study seeks to improve the understanding of the Caribbean's role in global climate stability and change.
On March 9th the students and scientists joined National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientists aboard the research vessel Ronald H. Brown, which is on its first Atlantic and Caribbean trip.
UVI participants will assist NOAA Chief Scientist Douglas Wilson with conducting measurements in the Antillean Passages as part of the Windward Islands Monitoring Project. After Barbados, the vessel will head to Trinidad and Tobago before making its way up the archipelago, stopping at St. Thomas on Monday, March 18, where it will dock for several days. Along the route, the researchers will join with University of the West Indies scientists to survey the submarine volcano known as "Kick ‘em Jenny."
Students' responsibilities include deploying and recovering a package of instruments that measure the temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen levels in waters more than 2.5 miles deep. UVI graduate Barry Volson, who has a bachelor's degree in Marine Biology, will join the expedition, which is UVI's thirteenth.
ACTS was founded and is managed by UVI's St. Thomas Chancellor Roy Watlington.
"The thought that this important vessel will be visiting the Virgin Islands for the first time during the week of UVI's 40th Anniversary is very exciting for us and must be recognized," Watlington said. UVI plans to host a reception for the researchers and crew of the Ronald H. Brown before it leaves the Virgin Islands.
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