A small autonomous marine vessel has commenced a mission circumnavigating Antarctica to gather atmospheric and oceanic measurements relevant to climate science research. The seven-meter craft, manufactured by US-based maritime company Saildrone, is expected to complete its journey in seven to nine months, traveling approximately 22,000 kilometers through the Southern Ocean’s challenging conditions.
The vessel was deployed from Hobart and will traverse eastward toward New Zealand before passing through the Drake Passage between South America and Antarctica, continuing past South Africa and returning to its departure point. During deployment, the craft already encountered eight-meter waves and 35-knot winds, demonstrating the harsh environment it must navigate. The autonomous vehicle is equipped with solar power capabilities, a fixed sail, a heavy keel for stability, and steering mechanisms, allowing it to operate without fuel consumption.
Throughout its voyage, the craft will collect comprehensive data including wind speed, atmospheric pressure, solar radiation, ocean temperature, salinity, chlorophyll levels, and carbon dioxide concentrations in both water and atmosphere. This mission represents the first of a planned fleet of four vessels, with additional units scheduled for deployment at three-month intervals across the Southern, Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans, particularly during winter months.
Researchers indicate that understanding oceanic carbon absorption is critical for climate science, as oceans currently absorb approximately one-third of human-caused carbon dioxide emissions annually. The autonomous vessel enables data collection over greater distances and extended timeframes compared to traditional crewed research vessels, including measurements during the polar winter season. Scientists will access information through a mission portal in near real-time, with comprehensive quality checks performed on data following the vessel’s return before broader research availability.
Experts note that multiple factors could alter oceanic carbon absorption rates, including warming waters, changing westerly winds, ice melt, ocean acidification, and atmospheric ozone dynamics. The deployment of uncrewed technology for data collection in the Southern Ocean’s extreme conditions represents an advancement in climate monitoring capabilities without requiring fuel-intensive research operations.
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