El Nino's Potential New Phase and Historical Research
The United Nations has issued a warning that a new phase of El Nino, a natural weather pattern originating in the Pacific Ocean, could commence within weeks. Multiple forecasts from national meteorological agencies indicate that this event might rank among the strongest ever recorded, potentially triggering more extreme weather conditions globally.
Scientists are actively studying how this phenomenon will influence the planet amid ongoing climate change. However, efforts to understand El Nino have spanned over a century, as explored by the Hidden East Yorkshire podcast.
"There's a lot been on the news quite recently about El Nino and the effects the global impact of this warm water current in the Pacific might have on the world as it has in the past," says Dr Rob Robinson, an honorary research fellow at the University of Hull.
"That and its complementary current, the Humboldt current, the cold-water current, have been a subject of a lot of examination over the years," he adds.
"And one of the reasons we know quite a lot about it is that the foundations for our understanding of these currents in the Pacific, a lot of them were laid by a research ship called the William Scoresby."
The William Scoresby’s Pioneering Voyages
A century ago this month, the Royal Research Ship William Scoresby departed from Humber Dock in Hull, embarking on a voyage to the southern oceans. Its primary mission was to conduct research on whale populations, particularly around the Falkland Islands. The ship was purpose-built in Beverley specifically for this task.
"The Scoresby was a path-breaking ship really," Robinson explains. "It was designed specifically to explore close to the Antarctic to understand more about the bottom of the seas."
Named after a renowned Whitby whaler and scientist, the vessel was constructed at the shipyard of Cook, Welton and Gemmell before being floated down the River Hull.
Its maiden voyage was undertaken alongside the Discovery, a famous ship that had previously carried explorers Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton on Antarctic expeditions.
During several expeditions, the Scoresby conducted extensive research on ocean currents. Numerous samples were collected and tests performed, contributing significantly to the advancement of marine biology and oceanography.
"Lots of samples were taken, tests were conducted, and gradually, with the scientists on board, an understanding, or rather the foundations of our modern sciences of marine biology and oceanography were given an extra lift," Robinson states.
On one notable voyage in the 1930s, when the ship was away from Britain for 19 months, the crew studied the Humboldt and El Nino currents in detail.
"The information that came back helped with our understanding of these currents and the impact they have not only on the Pacific but on the world," Robinson adds.
World War Two and Operation Tabarin
The Scoresby’s service extended beyond scientific research. During World War Two, the ship was requisitioned for Operation Tabarin, a covert mission in the South Atlantic. According to Robinson, this operation had a "cloak and dagger" nature, aiming to prevent Argentinian claims over various islands within the Falkland Islands Dependencies.
A postage stamp from the era depicts the vessel in operation during this time.
Following its active years, the Scoresby was laid up in the 1950s and eventually scrapped. Nevertheless, Robinson emphasizes the enduring legacy of the ship.
"Our understanding, our knowledge of the frontiers of marine biology and oceanography were really consolidated by the work of the Scoresby.
What was discovered not only helped us understand the movements of the currents and where they went, but also in a sense the way that they impacted on weather systems."
Further Listening and Resources
For those interested in more detailed accounts, additional episodes of the Hidden East Yorkshire podcast are available.
Listeners can also access highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on and watch the latest episode of Look North.
The app is available for download from the App Store for iPhone and iPad, as well as Google Play for Android devices.
