The Thwaites Glacier, or as some people call it, the Doomsday Glacier, because of its impact on sea levels, has recently had an expedition put together to explore the depths underneath the behemoth. An autonomous submarine-like vehicle called Ran was sent into the icy depths, but at some point, it disappeared completely.
The expedition was going well, and Ran was exploring the depths underneath the glacier when it reported back some information that hinted at a bizarre structure underneath the ice. Shortly after this, the submersible failed to reach its breaching point on the surface. An effort to find Ran was quickly underway.
A Frontier Expedition
Professor Anna Wåhlin from the University of Gothenburg spearheaded the project. She is renowned for her contributions to oceanography. She led a team that sent Ran off on the expedition in 2015, which they hoped would give them vital data regarding the glacier.
Ran was only one of three submersibles with its capabilities worldwide. Researchers hoped to find important data about how the Thwaites Glacier melts, which would have implications on rising sea levels. Ran needed to record the temperature fluctuations beneath the glacier, as well as the salinity of the water, and underwater mapping.
A Strange Structure
Ran was equipped with state-of-the-art sonar which, among other things, sent back the team sonar images and mapping data which hinted at a strange structure embedded on the ice shelf. The structure was interpreted as a cavernous system, created by water currents.
The submersible gave back readings that the entire structure had strange temperature fluctuations, which meant there could be trapped reserviors of subglacial water. Soon after these readings made it back to the team, all communications halted.
Searching For Ran
After giving back crucial data, the research team expected Ran to resurface at a designated extraction site. However, Ran never came back after cutting all of his communications. Using vehicles equipped with sonar, they searched for high and low for Ran. After extensive effort, it could not be found.
Some theories about Ran’s disappearance include a collapsing of ice, which blocked its way back to the surface, and a malfunction after being trapped underneath the glacier. It’s not all that surprising that Ran never returned from the journey when the conditions of Antarctic waters are so unpredictable and largely unknown.
The Impact The Glacier Has On Marine Life
Remote submersibles like Ran are crucial for understanding glaciers that contribute to rising sea levels. These glaciers, prominently Thwaites, have made a huge contribution to marine life. As glacier meltwater is introduced into these ecosystems, local species that rely on stable habitats, like krill, are disrupted. If krill populations are diminished, this has a knock-on effect as they are a vital food source for animals like penguins, whales, and seals.
The strange structure that Ran encountered before disappearing highlights the need for exploration, as underwater ecosystems may be hidden underneath glaciers. These reservoirs trapped in glaciers could harbor microbiomes for microbial life.
Speculation
With the halt of Ran’s expedition, the hidden structure may need further exploration to better understand both what happened to the submersible, and what kind of anomaly was found.
Ran’s disappearance isn’t the first time that expeditions have been cut short due to a failure or loss in equipment. Most of these can be explained by natural factors, but with Ran’s disappearance linked so closely to the structure beneath the surface, it only deepens both scientific and public curiosity.
Committed To Further Exploration
Scientists and researchers haven’t lost interest in Thwaites Glacier since Professor Wåhlin’s expedition ended in mystery. The vital data that Ran managed to send back to its team will help researchers prepare for future expeditions and overcome such unpredictable conditions.
While researchers put together future expeditions, Ran’s journey and disappearance will serve as a reminder that setbacks in the science field are natural, and that boundaries must be pushed further. The question of what happened to Ran may never be answered, but scientists will continue to search for solutions and answers in the depths of the unknown.
