PARTICIPANTS in the Volvo Ocean Race are also taking part in a global science project that will provide information about the health of the world's oceans.

Each yacht taking part in the race is equipped with an instrument package which measures ocean colour and sea temperature then transmits the data back to Southampton Oceanography Centre and NASA.

This information will be scientifically analysed and posted on a website along with daily images. Southampton Oceano-graphy Centre has developed the website as an online teaching tool for schools worldwide.

Dr Simon Boxall, of Southampton Oceanography Centre, is co-ordinating the web-based education programme.

He said: "We are providing an online environmental adventure for young people that will take them with the yachts and crew across four oceans. There will be information about world climate, our impact on the marine environment, and the research taking place in the oceans.

"Simply by looking at its colour we can tell a tremendous amount about the health of the sea. Colour can indicate the presence of microscopic marine plants called phytoplankton that absorb carbon dioxide.

"These plants give off oxygen and are as important to our climate and survival as the rainforests."

Each yacht will carry two types of instrument. A chain of temperature sensors is embedded at different depths in the keel and rudder.

This is complemented by three, light-weight ocean colour sensors, one on the stern measuring incident light, the others looking down at the sea surface.

The instruments have been designed to Dr Boxall's specifications by Saturn Solutions Ltd, a Solent-based company, and Trios GmbH, a German company.

Dr Boxall said: "The scientific instruments on the yachts are part of a larger research programme at Southampton Oceanography Centre to develop and test low-cost sensors on ships.

"The number of observation satellites has been increasing steadily but there is still a need for measurements made at the sea's surface to validate the satellite data.

"The yachts will help to advance this technology particularly in the southern hemisphere, where there is less shipping and opportunities for collecting data are scarce."