Robot submarine finds unknown structures beneath Antarctica; disappears

2 days ago

An unmanned submarine named Ran mapped the Dotson Ice Shelf in West Antarctica, revealing unexpected under-ice structures like terraces, teardrop-shaped pits, and fractures that were previously hidden from satellite view.
Ran's data showed that warm Circumpolar Deep Water currents from the Southern Ocean are eroding the ice shelf unevenly, causing faster melting on the western side and leaving the eastern flank more protected.
The mission highlighted how fractures and channels in the ice can concentrate warm water flow, accelerating ice loss in ways that many computer models overlook, impacting predictions of sea level rise.
During a 2022 mission, Ran went silent and was lost after traveling about ten miles under the ice, but its earlier successful missions provided valuable insights into ice-ocean interactions.
The findings emphasize the importance of detailed under-ice mapping to understand glacier stability and future sea level changes, particularly in West Antarctica where ice loss contributes significantly to rising sea levels.

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