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RV Tom Crean expedition returns from the Celtic Sea investigating links between ocean ecology and climate impact
A research team from Atlantic Technological University (ATU) has returned from the Celtic Sea aboard the research vessel (RV) Tom Crean after spending days sampling the ocean to advance our understanding of the carbon cycle.
The SCOOP (Survey of Carbon Oceanographic Observation in Particles) survey, led by ATU’s Dr Elena Pagter, Chief Scientist and a postdoctoral researcher, in collaboration with the Marine Institute, brought together scientists studying plankton, fish, and seabed communities.
“The team was driven by a desire to understand the full story of carbon in the ocean, from tiny particles to fish migration patterns, and from natural cycles to human impacts,” said Dr Elena Pagter.
“Think of the ocean as a giant breathing system. Tiny plants at the surface take in carbon, and bits of that carbon sink like snow. Fish and other animals help shuffle this marine snow into deeper water, where it can be stored for a long time in the sediment. On this cruise, we measured those steps together, so we can see how the ocean helps balance our climate”, said Dr Roisin Nash, ATU researcher and senior lecturer.
Three RISE@ATU PhD candidates joined the expedition, carrying out research central to their doctoral studies.
Dr Elena Pagter, Chief Scientist said:
ATU students experienced the reality of offshore sampling at sea: long days, challenging weather, complex instruments, and the excitement of collecting their samples and discovering patterns emerging from fresh data.
One of them, Charles Lucas Makio focused on sediment carbon storage, which helps scientists understand how the ocean regulates climate and contributes to carbon budgets.
Manojkumar Chand examined benthic invertebrate communities, adapted monitoring tools to ensure offshore development, such as renewable energy projects, can coexist with healthy seabed ecosystems that support fisheries.
ATU RISE@ATU PhD candidate Giulia Maria Rossa profiled plankton to track the health and distribution of microscopic life, which underpins the wider marine food web and coastal livelihoods.
“What makes this cruise special is the combination of tools, perspectives, and energy on board, chemists, ecologists, and fellow early career researchers all working side by side. It’s a cruise I’ll never forget”, said Manoj Chand, RISE@ATU PhD Candidate.
By combining these measurements, the survey will provide evidence to guide sustainable fisheries management, marine spatial planning, biodiversity protection, and climate-related policy decisions. The research also contributes to understanding how human activity may disrupt marine ecosystems.
The samples collected during the voyage will now be analysed in laboratories over the coming months. The findings are expected to contribute to climate research and help inform marine spatial planning in Irish waters.
Featured Image: ATU Researchers with the RV Tom Crean expedition
Photo Caption 1: Manojkumar Chand and Charles Lucas Makio are researching the seabed core, studying carbon storage and seabed health
Photo Caption 2: PhD candidates Charles Lucas Makio, Manojkumar Chand, and Giulia Maria Rossa work together on deck, collecting and analysing samples to study carbon in the Celtic Sea.
Photo Caption 3: Researchers collect a seabed sample to study how carbon is stored in sediments.
Contact:
Jorden McMenamin
Communications Officer
Tel: 074 918 6127
E: jorden.mcmenamin@atu.ie
