A submersible that was exploring the alien world of Antarctica’s ‘Doomsday’ glacier is missing and presumed ‘dead’ under the ice.
The unmanned vehicle, named Ran, was on its second descent beneath the glacier – which is up to 500 metres thick in places.
Although designed to function autonomously, often losing communication with the surface, concerns were raised when the sub failed to return to its scheduled rendezvous point.
Now, the University of Gothenburg team which operated Ran, suspects the batteries have died and it will remain lost forever.
‘It’s a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack, but without even knowing where the haystack is, said the team’s Professor Anna Wåhlin.
‘At this point, Ran’s batteries are dead. All we know is that something unexpected happened under the ice. We suspect it ran into trouble, and then something prevented it from getting out.’
The submersible’s route beneath the ice is programmed in advance of the mission, and it can find its own way back to open water thanks to an advanced navigation system.
The fateful dive took place at the end of January, sending the seven-metre sub beneath the enormous Thwaite’s glacier, which is on the northern edge of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.
It is also known as the ‘Doomsday’ glacier, because it could raise global sea levels by several metres if it was to melt.
‘Thanks to Ran, we became the first researchers in the world to enter Thwaites in 2019, and during the current expedition we have visited the same area again, said Professor Wåhlin.
‘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.’
However, it now seems Ran has made the ultimate sacrifice to further our knowledge of the Antarctic and climate change.
‘The data we receive from Ran is unique in the world, and of great value for international research,’ said Professor Wåhlin, who led the mission on board the South Korean icebreaker RV/IB Araon.
‘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.
‘But it is of course a very big loss.’
The team hopes to replace Ran, but will need additional financing to top up the insurance payment.
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Dr. Thomas Hughes is a UK-based scientist and science communicator who makes complex topics accessible to readers. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
