This archive report was first published on 26 October 2021.
Published on October 26, 2021, researchers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography are nearing the completion of an extraordinary technological achievement: an ocean simulator called Soars.
Standing at 36 meters long, Soars boasts a 32,000-gallon seawater tank, which will be crucial in understanding the Earth's oceans' response to rapid climate change.
The name Soars is an acronym for Scripps Ocean Atmosphere Research Simulator. The system's tank will be filled with water directly from the Pacific Ocean, while above it, massive pipelines will generate winds of up to 100 km/h, simulating the waves of the sea.
Currently, oceanographers rely on computer projections to create climate models, but these models lack small yet valuable information. Soars will provide unparalleled modeling control, allowing researchers to manipulate factors such as water temperature, acidity, wind speed, and more.
By utilizing Soars, researchers can conduct experiments that would otherwise require a ship, saving costs of up to $20,000 per day. This new technology will enable scientists to study various aspects of ocean behavior, including evaporation, cloud formation, marine ecosystems, and polar ice melting.
Climate aerosol scientist Paul DeMott of Colorado State University plans to conduct an experiment next summer, manipulating temperatures and wind speeds to understand how small particles form.
As Deane noted, 'If we don't wake up, if we don't understand the consequences of our behavior, we're in a very difficult situation.'
