Berlin -- The German research ship Polarstern has begun its 24th voyage of scientific study, investigating climate change in the Southern Ocean area.
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The 10-week expedition began Wednesday evening at Cape Town, South Africa, two hours after an official ceremony was held at the Berlin Museum of Natural History honoring the ship's 25th anniversary.
The 53 scientists from eight nations aboard Polarstern said they will focus much of their work on climate-related research as part of the International Polar Year.
"Our research projects will improve the understanding of physical and biological processes associated with the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and the Weddell Gyre -- both of which play a key role for the Earth's climate," said chief scientist Ulrich Bathmann of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research.
Polarstern is to return to its home port of Cape Town on Feb. 4.
Copyright 2007 by United Press International.
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