A TEAM of scientists from Southampton Oceanography Centre will set sail for the Celtic Sea tomorrow on a three-week mission to measure stocks of marine algae.
Called phytoplankton, the algae form a dense, pea soup-like layer about 30 metres below the surface of the sea during the summer months and are a vital food source for marine life.
"It's only just becoming recognised that this growth of algae during the summer could be a rather important component in the growth of the rest of the food chain, including the fisheries," said principal mission scientist Dr Jonathan Sharples.
"We're also interested in how much carbon the phytoplankton take up out of the water as this ultimately contributes to the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thereby helping to regulate the global climate."
Colleagues from home and aboard will join the expedition, which is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council.
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