Unmanned Vessel Embarks on Antarctic Adventure to Study Carbon Dioxide
A small, uncrewed vessel, resembling a large orange kayak, has set off on an ambitious journey to circumnavigate Antarctica. The seven-meter craft is expected to cover around 22,000 kilometers across harsh waters, powered by strong westerly winds and solar energy. This distance is approximately seven times that between Sydney and Perth.
Mission Goals
The primary objective is to gather data on carbon dioxide levels in both the ocean and atmosphere, providing crucial insights into the role of ocean sinks in climate change. Along the voyage, the vessel will encounter extreme conditions, including massive waves, freezing temperatures, and occasional wildlife interactions.
Dr. Elizabeth Shadwick from CSIRO noted the vessel’s route would begin near New Zealand, passing through the notoriously rough Drake Passage and returning via the southern tip of Africa. The entire mission could take between seven to nine months.
Vessel Specifications
The autonomous vessel, engineered by the U.S. company Saildrone, is designed for durability and stability during rough weather, featuring a heavy keel and a solar sail for propulsion. It’s remotely monitored through satellites, allowing operators to adjust its course if necessary. “The device has already weathered some severe conditions,” Shadwick remarked, highlighting its robustness after facing eight-meter waves and 35-knot winds soon after launch.
Data Collection
Throughout its journey, the vessel will measure various environmental parameters, including:
- Wind speed
- Atmospheric pressure
- Solar radiation
- Ocean temperature and salinity
- Chlorophyll levels
- Carbon dioxide concentrations
These measurements will contribute significantly to understanding how oceans operate as carbon sinks. “The ocean absorbs about a third of human emissions each year,” Shadwick explained. Understanding how this ability might change is critical as climate challenges increase.
Future Contributions
This unmanned vessel is the first of four, with additional crafts planned to launch at three-month intervals, covering various oceans during winter months. The use of autonomous vehicles allows for extensive data collection across larger areas and during harsher environmental conditions, which traditional crewed research vessels cannot achieve.
Dr. Pep Canadell emphasized the importance of tracking carbon absorption given the increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Observations will help scientists predict changes in ocean responses to climate change, which is essential for developing effective strategies for reducing carbon emissions.
The Southern Ocean presents extreme challenges for research, and utilizing autonomous vehicles enhances the efficiency and sustainability of data collection efforts in these inhospitable conditions.
