A serendipitous mishap with an underwater glider has given scientists at the University of East Anglia (UEA) unprecedented access to study the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica’s largest ice shelf. The research presents clear evidence of ocean warming’s effect on Antarctic ice over four decades. The Accidental Discovery In December 2022, an autonomous Seaglider named Marlin deviated from its programmed northward course in the Ross Sea. Caught in a southward current, it found itself beneath the Ross Ice Shelf for four days. During this unplanned expedition, Marlin completed 79 dives, reaching depths of 200 meters while measuring water conditions directly under … Continue reading Antarctica’s Ross Ice Shelf: Accidental Glider Dive Reveals 45 Years of Ocean Warming Driving Hidden Ice Loss of Up to 80 cm Annually