2001-02 Volvo Ocean Adventure
A global environmental and educational programme for young people, the Adventure project was launched at Oceanology 2000 in Brighton, UK, with the aim of encouraging young people around the globe to tackle environmental issues that would affect their future.
Scientific instruments were attached to each Volvo Ocean Race boat, and measurements around ocean colour and temperature were taken throughout the race. Ocean colour is largely determined by seawater concentration of phytoplankton (microscopic marine plants), which in turn contributes to the ocean’s absorption of CO2 (carbon dioxide).
The Race also appointed science partners – involved in marine environmental research at local or global level – in each of the countries that hosted the race.
Alongside satellite images provided by NASA’s Earth Observation programme, Volvo Ocean Adventure made a key contribution towards research into the role of the ocean in the global carbon cycle. All data received from the boats, combined with the images, were made available in real-time online to support a wide range of educational activities and environmental projects.