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Chill-proofed divers are about to plunge beneath the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica in an attempt to figure out how global warming is affecting the diverse array of life that hangs out there.
And for the first time, they are recording 360-degree video of the entire six-week expedition to create a virtual-reality experience of the mysterious polar environment above and below the ice.
"The aim of the outreach is to raise awareness about the unique and fragile Antarctic coastal under-ice ecosystems and the broader effect climate change might have on the ecosystems and the whole planet," Alf Norkko, a marine biologist at Helsinki University, said in a statement.
Norkko is one of three Finnish members of the expedition, along with University of Helsinki marine biologist Joanna Norkko, who is also married to Alf Norkko, and the explorer and photographer Patrick Degerman, which set out Thursday (Oct. 26) from Scott Base in Antarctica. [In Photos: Diving Beneath Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf]
In addition to their scientific studies and diving duties beneath the ice shelf, the Finnish team members are responsible for shooting the 360-degree video and keeping the world informed through a series of regular updates, photographs and videos on their Facebook page.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/60802-explorers-dive-beneath-antarctic-ice.html
(Score: 2) by frojack on Friday November 10 2017, @07:43PM (1 child)
Why should I be responsible to determining in advance how these jerks will contaminate the million-year isolated environment under the ice? Isn't that THEIR responsibility?
Its not like this uncharted territory NEEDS to be invaded by humans venting (god knows what) directly into the water column.
https://www.livescience.com/24137-lake-vostok-no-life-yet.html [livescience.com]
http://tntoday.utk.edu/2014/08/20/ut-research-uncovers-subglacial-life-beneath-antarctic-ice-sheet/ [utk.edu]
Maybe they need more rigorous rules:
http://www.nature.com/news/mars-contamination-fear-could-divert-curiosity-rover-1.20544 [nature.com]
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 3, Informative) by Immerman on Saturday November 11 2017, @02:16AM
Where are you getting the idea that this is an isolated environment? It's an ice shelf - a place where a glacier has slid beyond the coastline and is floating on the surface of the ocean. It's only (mostly) isolated from direct contact with the atmosphere, sea currents, fish, trash, and submarines can all freely travel beneath it.
It's isolated from exploration mainly because you can't get there by normal boat, and the water temperature is well below freezing.