Day 13: Underwater robots

On this cruise, a great deal of the research relies on our underwater robot (the ROV), and the crack team of pilots that spend their days sitting closely together in a metal container!

Day 12: Hidden creatures of the deep!

Today’s blog is written by Anne from the University of Hull, about the teeny tiny invisible creatures of the deep.

Day 11: Dissolving balls

Today the blog is written by Seb Hennige (part of Team Coral) and is about clod cards (or clod balls as perhaps they should more accurately be named!).

Day 10: Fish and Ships

Today's blog is written by Rosanna from the University of Glasgow, about her fishy interests!

Day 9: The Coral Challenge begins...

Team Coral has a buzz of excitement, as their carefully collected corals have begun their ocean acidification and warming challenge.

Day 8: The Eddy has Landed

The ROV and Eddy, good to go!

Today's blog is written by Karl, from the University of Southern Denmark, all about 'Jackson', his Eddy correlation lander....

Day 7: Bye bye Mingulay

Today was the last day at the Mingulay Reef Complex for the Changing Oceans Expedition. For the next few weeks, the sight of land will be a distant memory, it will be nothing but sea! So, week one, where to start......

Sgoil Lionacleit's blog

Todays blog was written by Erin Warner, from Sgoil Lionacleit, Benbecula, about her experience visiting the Changing Oceans Expedition.........

Day 6: Helen's water.....

Todays blog is written by Helen Findlay from Plymouth Marine Lab.

As another sun rises into view through the porthole of the chemical lab, I count how many samples I have left to analyse (40), and not for the first time on this trip, wonder why oh why I collected so many samples.

Day 5: Feeding Corals

After one week on board, we already have healthy corals in our tanks, and will use these corals to learn more about their ecology.

Day 4: SPI-ing at Mingulay

Today was a very exciting time for ‘team SPI’. Silvana and Nigel from CEFAS managed to collect their first deep-water SPI images. We saw some nice Crinoids, sponges, stony corals and erect polychaete tubes. So, we will continue with our SPI transects during the cruise.

Day 3: Science Communication Day

 Today was a bit of a different day for everyone aboard James Cook. Eleven scientists were treated to a day on the Isle of Barra, to make way for a school group from Sgoil Lionacleit and a BBC team from 'The One Show'. It was nice for the scientists to talk about their research and show off their toys.

Day 2: Testing Times

Waking up to bright Scottish sunshine immediately put both scientists and crew in a good mood, and we arrived at Mingulay Reef Complex ahead of schedule. The sunglasses were out, and there was even talk of shorts!

Day 1: Leaving Glasgow, woohoo!

The Changing Oceans Expedition is underway! At 6pm, the RRS James Cook cast off from Govan, and headed west along the River Clyde. In 20 hours’ time we will arrive at Mingulay and the science will start!

The Master Plan!

Team coral making plans

Work on the ROV continues, and we have a new sail date of tomorrow. This has allowed us some extra time to make sure everything is perfect onboard the ship, and a few last minute trips to B&Q!

All aboard!

Today was yet another day of unpacking and organising - mobilising the ship takes a lot of hands on deck. The ROV (remotely operated vehicle) team have been busy checking and double checking everything - everything needs to be perfect before the robot can descend to 1000 m!

VIPs, plus Scientists with drills

Today was a busy day on the ship, with scientists arriving, a crew change and visits from the Scottish Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Stewart Stevenson, Heriot-Watt University Principal Steve Chapman and a BBC News team.

And so it begins.....

Today marks the start of the cruise for many of us, as we began to load up the ship in Glasgow. Although the day started off sunny, in typical British fashion the storm clouds opened, just in time for our arrival at the dockside.

Packing, Plumbing and Planning

Final preparations are underway in labs across the country, as the expedition grows ever closer. On Sunday 13th May, the RRS James Cook will arrive in Glasgow, ready to be loaded with equipment, supplies and scientists.