A crucial submersible tasked with studying the underbelly of Antarctica's infamous "doomsday glacier" has vanished during its latest mission.
The unmanned underwater vehicle (AUV), known as Ran, employs cutting-edge sensors to probe the frigid waters, undertaking extensive explorations beneath the ice, IFL Science reports.
During its recent venture to the Thwaites Glacier – ominously dubbed the "doomsday glacier" due to its potential to dramatically elevate global sea levels if it were to melt – the submersible ventured beneath the massive 200–500 meter (650-1600 feet) thick ice sheets.
"This was the second time we took Ran to Thwaites Glacier to document the area under the ice," remarked Anna Wåhlin, Professor in the Department of Marine Sciences at the University of Gothenburg. "Even if you see melting and movements in the ice from satellite data, from Ran we get close-ups of the underside of the ice and information about exactly which mechanisms are behind the melting."
During its dives, the AUV operates autonomously, following pre-programmed routes and relying on sophisticated navigation systems to navigate from beneath the ice to open water.
However, following several successful expeditions beneath the ice in January, Ran mysteriously failed to resurface at the designated rendezvous point. Despite extensive search efforts utilizing acoustic equipment, drones, and helicopters, the whereabouts of Ran remains unknown.
Fortunately, the AUV is unmanned - just very expensive and crucial for further research.
"It’s a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack, but without even knowing where the haystack is," explained Wåhlin. "At this point, Ran’s batteries are dead.
"We suspect it ran into trouble, and then something prevented it from getting out."
Regrettably, the team believes this marks the end of Ran's journey. However, they find solace in the fact that the submersible will not languish in obscurity but will be replaced as part of ongoing research efforts.
"The data we receive from Ran is unique in the world, and of great value for international research," she said. "At the same time, the stakes are high, we knew something like this could happen, even that it's a likely end for Ran. Personally, I'm of the opinion that this is a better end than having the AUV aging gathering dust in a garage. At the same time, it is of course a very big loss."
As the search for Ran concludes, researchers vow to forge ahead with their vital investigations into the enigmatic Thwaites Glacier, undeterred by this unexpected setback.
