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ANZEC Member Michael Aw joins Elysium Epic expedition to document Antarctica! (2010-01-21)
Elysium Epic research team will provide in-depth scientific/photographic survey of Antarctica and the impact of global warming on Earth’s last remote place
Australia, 20-January 2010 – On February 10, 2010, a 57-member team of explorers from 18 countries will meet in Ushuaia, Argentina – the world’s southernmost city – to embark on a benchmark expedition to Antarctica. Convened by an Australian project director Michael AW of the Ocean Geographic Society, the team is comprised of some of the world’s most celebrated image-makers, historians, and scientists, including several Australian; Their mission is to scout, record, and analyze this pristine land of ice and snow –and to create a visual library of the impact of climate change on this remote region.
Michael AW said, “Elysium Epic is about extraordinary explorers using advanced imaging technologies to document the last wilderness on our planet. The aim of the project is to provide a visual library that documents the flora and fauna of Antarctica, and to produce a documentary feature and book to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the heroic legendary expedition of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Trans Antarctic challenge in 1914. *”
Twelve Australian, including Dr Steve Nicol and Dr Karen Richardson, will participate in the expedition. Dr. Nicol, a senior scientist from the Australian Antarctic Division is an expert on all aspects of the biology and ecology of krill, Antarctic fisheries, and the dynamics of Southern Ocean ecosystems will serve as the principal scientist of expedition and Dr Richardson is the project director assistant. Both are extremely excited for the opportunity to share in this historic expedition.
“It is extremely exciting to be able to participate in an expedition of such importance to the last pristine wilderness location on earth,” Dr. Nicol stated. “I look forward to working with this extraordinary group of experts, and am very glad to help make a lasting impact on research into global warming – a topic that is critical to anyone who lives in Australia.”
The 2010 Elysium Epic team will explore the route Shackleton and his crew travelled after they lost the Endurance – from the Weddell Sea and across the treacherous Drake Passage to South Georgia. The team aims to capture the splendour of the fauna, the terrain, the sights and sounds of this enchanting region in a manner that no one has ever done before.
The Antarctic Peninsula has increased in temperature by 3C in the last 50 years; that is more than twice the world’s average and the greatest increase in temperature of any place on Earth. It makes the peninsula an important and poignant indicator for climate change. But what implications does this rise in temperature have for the organisms that call the Antarctic home? Elysium tam scientists and photographers will document the present state of global warming as it affects this vulnerable and volatile region. Visual records will be taken every step of the way: photographic testimony, video documentation, samples and population estimates.
The 21st century team is no ordinary group of explorers; they comprise some of the world’s best wildlife photographers, film makers and marine scientists. The principal members include: David Doubilet, photographer in residence of National Geographic; Titanic and deep-sea vent discoverer Emory Kristof - also a National Geographic Photographer in residence; BBC Wildlife photographer of the Year winners Michael AW, Goran Ehlme, and Amos Nachoum; eight-time World Underwater Pictures festival Winner Leandro Blanco; and the master of black and white underwater imagery, Ernest Brooks II, acclaimed as the Ansell Adams of the Sea; Nature’s Best Wildlife Winner Jenny Ross; chief scientist Cabell Davis, PhD from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute; Steve Nicol, PhD of the Australian Antarctic Division and a specialist in the dynamics of Southern Ocean ecosystems; and fine-art artist Wyland, renowned as the Michelangelo of the Sea.
Jonathan Shackleton, cousin of his legendary Irish forebear is also part of the lead team and will be on site to tell the story of Ernest Shackleton – revealing how the hero managed heroic feats in one of the most inhospitable regions of the world. Other team members comprise medical doctors, geophysicists, oceanographers, marine biologists, professional film makers and technical diving practitioners. This is, by any visual or scientific standard, the ultimate dream team.
The production shoot will begin where Shackleton and his team fought to survive their unexpected situation. What will it be like 98 years later? Will there still be the expanse of ice shelf in this time of global ocean change? Will it be the same as when they first walked? Or has man’s destructive hand already irreversibly changed the landscape forever?
The expedition serves two purposes. The first is to connect to Shackleton. But the second is to provide an in-depth scientific survey of the area as a reference to time and generations to come. Surveys of organisms above and below the ice will yield many new visual wonders. Hopefully the team will discover some as yet unknown treasures. Photos and videos of penguins, seals and seabirds will be collated into a publicly accessible index.
Elysium Epic aims to be the world’s only expedition of its kind, and will be entirely carbon neutral. The project team is working with experts in climate change science to calculate the carbon footprint of the expedition and to offset by means of purchase of carbon credits or/and by investing in offset schemes that yield measurable results.
The team will attempt to land on Elephant Island, an enchanting but notoriously difficult landfall to approach due to its ice-covered mountainous terrain, dense fogs, icebergs and a lack of safe anchorage. Attempting to land on Elephant Island could prove to be too difficult for the team. Throughout history just a handful of people have successfully landed on Elephant Island. Provided they accomplish their rendezvous with Elephant Island, the team will then sail to South Georgia. After collecting, collating, experiencing, and embracing the wonders of the Antarctic region and Shackleton’s journey, the explorers will land at Grytviken, where Shackleton is buried. Elysium Epic is a tribute to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Shackleton’s Trans Antarctic Epic.
The expedition will produce a feature documentary, a limited edition high quality book and, most importantly, an index of images for a climate change documentation of the Antarctic Peninsula. From 8 February 2010, the explorers will update their progress daily at ElysiumEpic.org; the team welcomes questions the public, especially students, about the adventure, climate change and ecological science of the Antarctic region. The team will respond live whenever and will update the expedition blog several times daily from 10 February to 2 March.
Media contact: Nicole Lenoir Jourdan – Five Star PR Pty Ltd nicole@fivestarpr.com.au
Principal Sponsors: Hong Kong Broadband: Ocean Geographic Society
Key Sponsors: Lowepro, Amphibico, Seacam
Supporters: Atomic. Nikon, Waterproof Sweden
Facilitated by Waterproof Expeditions
ElysiumEpic.org
OceanGeographic.org
Elysium Epic’s Manifesto – A Call for a Change in Attitude Toward Our Oceans
1. Elysium Epic’s explorers recognise that global climate change is intimately related to ocean change. For the world to address climate change, we must address ocean change.
2. The oceans play an essential role in regulating global climate and regional temperature, and are crucial for controlling the carbon, oxygen, and water cycles of the planet. The oceans are a vital part of the complex geophysical and biochemical systems that support life on Earth.
3. The exchanges of cold and warm water that take place in the Antarctic’s Southern Ocean and the seas of the Arctic are key drivers of ocean thermohaline circulation around the globe, and thus play a fundamental role in controlling the world’s climate.
4. There is strong evidence that, due to human impacts on our atmosphere stemming from the emission of greenhouse gases, significant changes are taking place in the chemical composition of the oceans. Those changes are affecting the oceans’ pH levels and productivity, and are impairing the ability of ocean life to survive and thrive. These issues are vital signs, telling us that our planet is in distress.
5. The ocean harbours a great diversity of life, with complex interactions between species and their environment. Productivity of ocean life affects global climate through the carbon cycle and provides important protein to the world food supply.
6. If each of us accepts personal responsibility for becoming informed about climate change and ocean change issues, and for taking appropriate individual action to address the problems involved, collectively we will be able to achieve the results necessary to restore the health of our planet.
The Climate Change Paradigm: Atmosphere to Ocean to Climate
The Elysium Epic’s mission stems from its explorers’ shared understanding that climate change is intimately related to ocean change. The oceans play an essential role in regulating global climate and regional temperature, and are crucial for controlling the carbon, oxygen, and water cycles of the planet. The oceans are a vital part of the complex geophysical and biochemical systems that support life on Earth. For example, the exchanges of cold and warm water that take place in the Antarctic’s Southern Ocean and the seas of the Arctic are key drivers of thermohaline circulation throughout all the oceans across the globe, and thermohaline circulation in turn plays a fundamental role in controlling the world’s climate. Another example: There is strong evidence that, due to impacts on our atmosphere stemming from the emission of greenhouse gases, significant changes are taking place in the chemical composition of the oceans. Those changes are affecting the oceans’ pH levels and productivity, and are impairing the ability of ocean life to survive and thrive. Impacts on the well-being of ocean life are beginning to affect other forms of life as well. These issues are vital signs, telling us that our planet is in distress.
Human impact on the ocean is increasing every year with global warming and acidification reducing ocean productivity, overdevelopment and pollution contaminating the sea, and an increasing demand for food causing over-harvesting of the worlds fisheries. Addressing these issues requires a combination of exploration and quantitative analysis to understand the underlying processes controlling diversity and productivity of marine life. Such knowledge is essential to allow us to better protect ocean life and thereby protect ourselves.
The Strategy
The members of the Elysium Epic expedition and all affiliated agents and organizations will embark on a systematic global awareness campaign, using a variety of publications and activities, to increase public and governmental understanding of climate change and ocean change in the Antarctic. A crucial goal is to explain that ocean change is a key element of climate change, and addressing the serious changes occurring in our oceans must be a part of addressing climate change if we are going to achieve the most beneficial outcomes.
Saving the Ocean’s Barometers
Dolphins, sharks, and whales are crucial umbrella species in ocean ecosystems, and are therefore barometers of our oceans’ health. By preserving the existence of these creatures in the oceans, we will be preserving an essential strand in the web of life on Earth. The indiscriminate culling of these magnificent and important animals must cease, and no effort should be spared to achieve that result.
Protecting Ocean Health
Ocean life influences the chemical composition of the sea, thereby impacting ocean-atmosphere gas exchange and global climate. Human induced ocean warming and acidification are changing the balance between ocean biology and its physical and chemical environment. It is incumbent on us to explore and quantify ocean life and its environment, from plankton through top predators, in order to understand and protect the health of this vital component of our planet's biosphere. Studying key groups of animals like zooplankton (e.g., krill, copepods, salps), and higher predators (e.g., dolphins, sharks, whales, seals and seabirds) can help us keep our finger on the pulse of ocean life."
Personal Responsibility
The Elysium Epic explorers are each committed to using their expertise to increase worldwide understanding of ocean change as a key element of climate change. The explorers have taken on the personal responsibility of achieving that goal by following in the wake of Shackleton’s epic 20th century expedition, and by expanding upon the Shackleton mission to create an unparalleled artistic portrait and crucial scientific index of the current conditions in the Antarctic as climate change begins to take a toll on the region. The Elysium Epic explorers are dedicated to the notion that preservation of life on Earth as we know it depends on each individual accepting personal responsibility for educating him or herself about climate change issues and for reducing his or her own carbon footprint.
For Future Generations
The Elysium Epic explorers will strive to create a comprehensive and compelling artistic portrait of the Antarctic, and document its current ecological status scientifically. The explorers hope the fruits of their efforts will bring the plight of this crucial region to the attention of the world, will inspire action to fight climate change, will yield vital benchmark data for measuring the future effects of Antarctic warming, and will comprise a magnificent collection of sights, sounds, and information to be treasured by future generations.
The Declaration
This Manifesto affirms that the Elysium Epic is more than just an exploration event. It is a commitment by the team of explorers to a greater goal beyond the adrenalin rush of a challenging adventure. The Elysium Epic is the beginning of an ongoing commitment to inspire and enlighten the general public and government decision-makers around the world, and to motivate everyone to take essential action to restore the health of our planet.
For the ELYSIUM EPIC CONSORTIUM – OceanNEnvironment Australia
ElysiumEpic.org
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