The Albatross Expedition have had an enormous impact on marine research, laying the foundation for today's modern deep-sea research, and making invaluable contributions to our knowledge about the ocean.
At the opening of the exhibition, some of the University of Gothenburg's researchers will give short lectures on the importance of the Expedition for the development of their research fields, and about the great adventure of sailing along the equator.
Programme
Microfossils reveal historical climate
It was in the Albatross Expedition's sediment cores that scientists first discovered that oxygen isotopes in marine microfossils act as a “paleothermometer” and could convey information about historical climate.
Oxygen isotopes are now known as the “backbone of palaeoceanography”, and climate scientists around the world still use this method in their research today.
Lecturer: Irina Polovodova Asteman, Senior Lecturer in Marine Geology, Department of Marine Sciences
The Kullenberg piston corer - a Swedish invention
During the Albatross Expedition, a newly designed Swedish sediment sampling instrument called the “Kullenberg piston corer” was used. With this new technology, the Swedish researchers were able to collect sediment cores as long as 20 metres.
Through the significantly longer sediment cores, the Expedition reached about two million years back in time, and it became possible for the researchers to study historical climate and the processes of the world's oceans like archaeologists.
The Expedition's sediment cores, as well as other samples from the Expedition, are still today stored at the University of Gothenburg.
Lecturer: Lennart Bornmalm, Senior Lecturer in Marine Geology, Department of Marine Sciences
The Expedition - an adventure along the equator
The manuscript collections at the University Library include material from the Albatross Expedition donated to the library by relatives and survivors.
For example, here are Expedition leader Hans Pettersson's diaries and personal letters from the expedition. There is also extensive documentation of newspaper clippings published in Swedish newspapers during the expedition.
A small selection of these letters, diaries, and articles will be read out during the opening ceremony.
Reciter: Annika Wall, Author, and Communications Officer, Department of Marine Sciences
Read more about the exhibition here.
