Project To Estimate Age Of Water

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29742, 8 February 1962, Page 11

Project To Estimate Age Of Water

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Feb. 6. The Taranui, at present engaged on scientific work, sailed tonight with a party at six scientists for a point 90 miles east of Cape Palliser. The most important part of her cargo when she returns will be 36 44-gallon drums of sea water.

The leader of the expedition, Mr T. Houtman, a hydrologist at the Oceanographic Institute of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, explained today that the drum samples would be collected at depths down to 2500 metres. At the same time the temperature and salinity of the water would be tested. The drums would be brought back to the Institute of Nuclear Sciences at Gracefield where their carbon 14 content would be determined. From this information it was hoped to estimate the age of the water sampled. The purpose of the investigations was to find out about the mixing processes of the water. Mr Houtman said the expedition would spend about three days in the Palliser Bay area. It would be situated over the Hikorangi trench, a particularly deep part of the ocean. After that the party would sail for the Mernoo bank, off Timaru. There it would collect cores from the sea bottom and do some dredging. This part of the work was largely to aid the programme of an American geologist, Dr. R. Norris, who was at present working with the Oceanographic Institute as a Fulbright scholar. The expedition, which will be away from Wellington about a week, consists of five scientists from the Oceanographic Institute and one from the Institute of Nuclear Sciences.