3 ms·

Unmanned submarine discovers ice shelf mysteries, then disappears

56 points by geox 2y ago

throwup238 2y ago
The latest paper using the Ran data is fascinating and has some cool drawings of currents and inflows: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adn9188 https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adn9188 Their earlier paper from 2021 discusses some of the earlier mapping the submersible did of the Doomsday glacier: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abd7254 https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abd7254 I was surprised by how complicated the topography is with these underwater currents. They cut upside down canyons and create some complicated caverns, overhangs, etc. just like rivers do overland.
- moffkalast 2y ago
  That is genuinely surprising, one would imagine it being mostly flat. Also oof, they lost a Kongsberg MBES, those things are beyond expensive ($100k+). Probably dwarfs the cost of the rest of the AUV. Then again it's also a Kongsberg AUV so perhaps not... https://www.kongsberg.com/discovery/autonomous-and-uncrewed-solutions/auv/hugin https://www.kongsberg.com/discovery/autonomous-and-uncrewed-...
  - aaron695 2y ago
    [dead]
  - CuriousCosmic 2y ago
    Given it's an antarctic expedition, I imagine that eventuality was prepared for and it probably pales in comparison to operational costs of just being out there.
    - moffkalast 2y ago
      Yeah true enough, they probably spent more on diesel alone.
netsharc 2y ago
This website having the line "By UNIVERSITY OF GOTHENBURG" makes me think this is one of those dubious-quality fake news sites (Similar to ones that show the picture of wave height after the Fukushima earthquake and claim it's showing the spread of radiation from the Fukushima nuclear incident): https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/fukushima-emergency/ https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/fukushima-emergency/ Indeed it's a copy-and-paste (plus sensationalized title) of this release from the actual university: https://www.gu.se/en/news/a-whole-new-view-on-glacier-melting-in-antarctica https://www.gu.se/en/news/a-whole-new-view-on-glacier-meltin...
- panzagl 2y ago
  Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn
- kfarr 2y ago
  It was the 3 videos playing at the same time that hinted to me this was a trashy site...

56 points by geox 2y ago

The latest paper using the Ran data is fascinating and has some cool drawings of currents and inflows: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adn9188 https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adn9188 Their earlier paper from 2021 discusses some of the earlier mapping the submersible did of the Doomsday glacier: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abd7254 https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abd7254 I was surprised by how complicated the topography is with these underwater currents. They cut upside down canyons and create some complicated caverns, overhangs, etc. just like rivers do overland.

moffkalast 2y ago
That is genuinely surprising, one would imagine it being mostly flat. Also oof, they lost a Kongsberg MBES, those things are beyond expensive ($100k+). Probably dwarfs the cost of the rest of the AUV. Then again it's also a Kongsberg AUV so perhaps not... https://www.kongsberg.com/discovery/autonomous-and-uncrewed-solutions/auv/hugin https://www.kongsberg.com/discovery/autonomous-and-uncrewed-...
- aaron695 2y ago
  [dead]
- CuriousCosmic 2y ago
  Given it's an antarctic expedition, I imagine that eventuality was prepared for and it probably pales in comparison to operational costs of just being out there.
  - moffkalast 2y ago
    Yeah true enough, they probably spent more on diesel alone.

netsharc 2y ago

This website having the line "By UNIVERSITY OF GOTHENBURG" makes me think this is one of those dubious-quality fake news sites (Similar to ones that show the picture of wave height after the Fukushima earthquake and claim it's showing the spread of radiation from the Fukushima nuclear incident): https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/fukushima-emergency/ https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/fukushima-emergency/ Indeed it's a copy-and-paste (plus sensationalized title) of this release from the actual university: https://www.gu.se/en/news/a-whole-new-view-on-glacier-melting-in-antarctica https://www.gu.se/en/news/a-whole-new-view-on-glacier-meltin...

panzagl 2y ago
Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn
kfarr 2y ago
It was the 3 videos playing at the same time that hinted to me this was a trashy site...