The Bio Station has invited scientists from other countries to look at their Bermuda Atlantic Time-Series Study (B.A.T.S.) in action.

B.A.T.S. is a decade-long examination of the carbon cycle in the ocean and the role that the oceans may play in the regulation of greenhouse gas.

Assistant Research Scientist Dr. Dennis Hansell is running the three, once-a-year courses the first of which was completed last weekend.

The first course, called "Practical Operation of Multidisciplinary Oceanographic Time-Series Station,'' involved students from Puerto Rico and Venezuela.

Dr. Hansell said: "It is open to professional oceanographers from countries who are interested in starting oceanographic time-series studies.

"This is an opportunity for them to come along and see how B.A.T.S. works.

This is a high profile, long running, well recognised, worldwide programme.

"The programme involves a series of lectures, and participation in the B.A.T.S. cruise to the Sargasso Sea to gain hands-on experience using at-sea data collection techniques. They are shown the most accepted ways of doing things.'' Dr. Hansell shows the students how to set up a programme to show them how to take the measurements and what the readings indicate.

With more and more countries carrying out their own tests off their shores it means a more detailed picture can be produced of the effects of the ocean on the global warming process.

Dr. Hansell said: "That is the point of the time-series programme. To put the system into place which can interact on a global basis.

"Data collected from long-term, time-series studies is needed to understand and model the interactions of the Earth system and to assess the impacts of human activities on the Earth's environment.

"Currently, only a few oceanic time-series research programmes exist.

There is a similar one off Hawaii but there is a lot of ocean out there that is not part of this.

"We are offering this course to encourage time series programmes to start up, rather than people having to start from scratch.'' Next year's course will involve Chileans and Mexicans and Dr. Hansell is hoping to develop some ties with ongoing time-series programmes carried out by the Germans and the French.

Dr. Hansell said there would also be follow-up visits by Bio Station technicians to the overseas programmes or the foreign scientists will be able to return to Bermuda.

GOING BATS TOGETHER -- Scientists from the Bio Station and their "pupils'' -- oceanographers from Venezuela and Puerto Rico, who are learning how to set up time-series studies.