Expedition and Discovery
An iceberg the size of , named A-84, calved from the , exposing a 209-square-mile area of seafloor previously hidden beneath ice for centuries.
An international team aboard the R/V Falkor (too) rapidly redirected their research to study the newly accessible seabed, discovering a diverse ecosystem teeming with life including sponges, corals, octopuses, and potentially new species.
Research Insights and Future Plans
The expedition, marking the first use of a remotely operated vehicle to explore beneath an ice shelf, revealed high biological productivity and a complex ecosystem possibly sustained by ocean currents or meltwater.
The research aims to understand the mechanisms supporting life in such harsh conditions and plans future returns to monitor ecosystem changes, contributing valuable data in the context of climate change and ice shelf dynamics.