Home / Science / Robotic Explorer Tackles Antarctica for Climate Science
Robotic Explorer Tackles Antarctica for Climate Science
25 Sep
Summary
- Uncrewed vessel voyages 22,000km around Antarctica.
- Collects data on ocean CO2 to understand climate change.
- Powered by sun and wind, withstands harsh Antarctic conditions.
An uncrewed, seven-meter vessel, resembling a hi-vis orange kayak, has begun an ambitious voyage around Antarctica. This autonomous craft is expected to travel approximately 22,000 kilometers, a journey seven times the distance between Sydney and Perth, in inhospitable waters. Powered by the sun and wind, it is designed to withstand extreme conditions, including large waves and freezing temperatures.
The primary objective of this mission is to collect data on carbon dioxide levels in the ocean and atmosphere. Scientists aim to deepen their understanding of the Southern Ocean's critical role as a carbon sink, absorbing about a third of annual human emissions. This data is essential for modeling future climate change scenarios.
The vessel is equipped to measure wind speed, atmospheric pressure, solar radiation, ocean temperature, salinity, chlorophyll, and carbon dioxide. This information will help researchers understand how factors like warming waters and melting ice might affect the ocean's absorption capacity. This is the first of four planned autonomous vessels to be deployed across global oceans.
