Launch Event Celebrates Start of CAPE-k in Tasmania

Published: 23 May 2024

A brilliant blue sky over Hobart, Tasmania, serves as a vibrant backdrop for a tour of the CSIRO-operated research vessel Investigator, which will collect data off the coast of the CAPE-k site in May 2025. A group of visitors on the ship pose for a photo. Photo is by Sally Taylor, CSIRO. — A brilliant blue sky over Hobart, Tasmania, serves as a vibrant backdrop for a tour of the CSIRO-operated research vessel *Investigator*, which will collect data off the coast of the CAPE-k site in May 2025. Photo is by Sally Taylor, CSIRO.

In April 2024, U.S. and Australian researchers, science officials, and dignitaries gathered in Tasmania to formally launch the Cloud And Precipitation Experiment at kennaook (CAPE-k).

The CAPE-k field campaign will collect data for 17 months on cloud and precipitation properties over the Southern Ocean, which has a large influence on global climate.

Representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), and Commonwealth Scientific Industrial and Research Organisation (CSIRO) were among those who attended the CAPE-k launch event. DOE’s Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility is conducting the campaign at the Kennaook / Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station, which BOM and CSIRO jointly manage.

U.S. attendees at the launch event included DOE Office of Science Senior Advisor Josh Shiode; DOE ARM Program Manager Sally McFarlane; ARM Director Jim Mather; CAPE-k Co-Principal Investigator Gerald “Jay” Mace from the University of Utah; and staff from Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), which manages the ARM Mobile Facility deployed for CAPE-k. ARM Mobile Facility Site Manager Heath Powers was part of LANL’s contingent.

The travelers had a full itinerary during their time abroad.

First, on April 27, they visited CSIRO’s marine facility in Hobart and toured the research vessel Investigator, which will be part of a complementary campaign during CAPE-k in May 2025.

On April 29, they explored the CAPE-k site, where they caught up with site technicians Tom Day and Frank Zurek and met with scientists from the Kennaook / Cape Grim station.

More site tours took place the morning of April 30. That afternoon, guests assembled at the Tall Timbers Hotel in Smithton for the formal launch event. The event featured a welcome of dignitaries, messages of appreciation, science talks by Mace and co-investigator Melita Keywood of CSIRO, and an atmospheric-themed dessert for attendees to enjoy.

Before heading home, McFarlane, Mather, and Powers joined a group at the University of Melbourne, where they introduced Australian scientists to CAPE-k and learned about related Southern Ocean science.

The trip also gave some of the international visitors a rare view of wildlife native to the region, including platypuses, quolls, Tasmanian devils, and wombats.

A few weeks into campaign operations, CAPE-k has made the news several times, including segments by the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Check out the articles and videos collected so far.

Clouds over kennaook / Cape Grim provide a timely photo opportunity at the CAPE-k site. Pictured from left to right are Josh Shiode, DOE Office of Science senior advisor; Patrick Fitch, an associate laboratory director at Los Alamos National Laboratory; Sally McFarlane, DOE ARM program manager; Heath Powers, who manages the ARM Mobile Facility deployed for CAPE-k; Gerald “Jay” Mace, CAPE-k’s co-principal investigator from the University of Utah; Jim Mather, ARM director; and Tom Day and Frank Zurek, both CAPE-k site technicians. Photo is courtesy of McFarlane.	Site visitors check out a weather balloon released from BOM’s automated radiosonde launcher (bottom left). Photo is by Sophie Schmidt, CSIRO.
Mace (right) talks with Mather (left) and Elanor Huntington, a CSIRO executive director. Photo is by Schmidt.	Powers has the crowd’s attention as they stop next to an ARM rain gauge. Photo is by Schmidt.
A resident Tasmanian devil stops to see what the fuss is. Photo is by Schmidt.	CAPE-k site visitors and staff gather for a photo in front of the autosonde launcher. Photo is by Schmidt.
Posing next to a CAPE-k cake during the formal campaign launch event in Smithton are, from left to right, Doug Hilton, CSIRO chief executive; Nichole Brinsmead, BOM chief information and technology officer and group executive, Data and Digital; Shiode; and Jacob Goldschlager, political and economic advisor for the U.S. Consulate General, Melbourne. Photo is by Schmidt.	Launch event attendees get ready to enjoy a taste of CAKE-k … er, CAPE-k. Photo is by Schmidt.