Capacitating a new generation of ocean experts

South Africa celebrates mature capabilities

SOUTH AFRICA: Since its inception some 15 years ago, the Southern Ocean Carbon and Climate Observatory (SOCCO) more than 80 ocean climate scientists, engineers and technicians are now skilled in advanced robotics, modelling, satellite remote sensing, ocean chemistry and more have been developed thanks to the investment in research by the CSIR and the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI).

“We now have these very mature capabilities in South Africa to understand the Southern Ocean and how it impacts climate, and that understanding is then implemented into Earth systems models,” says Dr Sandy Thomalla, head of SOCCO. “With better Earth systems models, we can feed back into society by supporting policy and governance around adaptation and mitigation strategies.” 

“The Southern Ocean takes up 50% of the ocean’s carbon dioxide (CO2) uptake and 75% of the heat that is being generated by the excess CO2 that remains in our atmosphere. So, it is a disproportionately more important ocean when it comes to buffering the impacts of climate change,” says Thomalla. 

Since South Africa has the geographical advantage in terms of accessing the Southern Ocean for scientific observations via the polar research vessel, the SA Agulhas II, each SOCCO student has an opportunity to join expeditions and gain hands-on scientific experience in a suite of disciplines that span physical and biogeochemical oceanography, ocean robotics and sensor development.

One of SOCCO’s very first graduates was Dr Thato Mtshali, now a specialist scientist at the Department of Forests, Fisheries and Environment.  

Thomalla says Mtshali’s journey is a prime example of how SOCCO equips experts to make tangible contributions to climate action and research worldwide, as he now applies his expertise in government and still collaborates with the CSIR.

“Within government, I am focusing mostly along the west coast, trying to understand the impact of climate change there,” says Mtshali. “The outcomes we produce provide advice to the fisheries and the communities along the coast.”  

Mtshali helped develop SOCCO’s capability to accurately sample, analyse and interpret trace metals in the ocean. 

“Understanding the role of trace metals like iron and how they interact with phytoplankton in the Southern Ocean is a key component of SOCCO’s research,” says Thomalla. “It is very difficult to measure a trace metal on a metal ship, so Thato had a long learning curve with all of us on how to do the measurements accurately.” 

She explains that phytoplankton, which is at the base of the ocean food chain and thus critical for underwater life, captures CO2 from the atmosphere during photosynthesis, just as trees on land do. 

“Our work in trace metal chemistry and other areas has helped reduce the uncertainty of global CO2.  For example, SOCCO has developed a machine learning global CO2 flux data product that is one of six global machine learning models used to reconstruct global ocean CO2 flux for the Global Carbon Budget,” says Thomalla.  

She says SOCCO’s contribution to local and global climate action is built on human capital development. The people trained there, 50% men and 50% women, hail from all over South Africa.  “They are not only focusing on the community that is close to the coast; they also go inland to previously disadvantaged universities like those in Limpopo and the Free State,” says Mtshali.  

Thomalla says many SOCCO graduates are already applying their skills in robotics, chemistry, high-resolution modelling, machine learning, big data analysis and satellite observations towards South Africa’s national STI decadal plan, to support global climate research and response, as well as to further their own careers. 

PHOTO: Ocean experts lower robotic sensors into Antarctic waters to measure trace metals. Understanding the role of trace metals like iron and their interactions with phytoplankton in the Southern Ocean is a key research focus of the Southern Ocean Carbon and Climate Observatory (SOCCO), hosted at the CSIR with support from the DSTI. Phytoplankton captures CO2 from the atmosphere, helping to buffer the impacts of climate change. (Source: CSIR)

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