A small uncrewed vessel has begun a journey around Antarctica, expected to cover about 22,000km. The seven-metre craft, powered by sun and wind, is designed to navigate challenging waters and may not return for several months.
The primary goal of the mission is to gather data on carbon dioxide levels in the ocean and atmosphere. This information is intended to help scientists better understand how oceans absorb human emissions and their role in global heating.
Dr Elizabeth Shadwick, a principal research scientist at the CSIRO, stated that the vessel, after departing Hobart, will travel east towards New Zealand, through the Drake Passage, past South Africa, and back. She anticipates its return in seven to nine months. The autonomous vehicle, made by US company Saildrone, is built to withstand harsh conditions and is remotely monitored via satellite.
Measurements taken during the journey will include wind speed, atmospheric pressure, solar radiation, ocean temperature, salinity, chlorophyll, and carbon dioxide levels. Dr Pep Canadell, a chief research scientist at the CSIRO, highlighted that oceans absorb approximately a third of human emissions annually, with the Southern Ocean playing a significant part. Understanding how this absorption might change is crucial, as factors like warming waters and melting ice could affect it.
This vessel is the first of a planned fleet of four, with subsequent launches scheduled at three-monthly intervals. These autonomous craft will gather data over greater distances and time, including during the polar winter, providing more comprehensive information than traditional crewed research vessels.