Scientists Launch Underwater Drones to Explore Antarctic Sea Ice (VIDEO)

Robots may tell scientists a bit more about the Antarctic. Underwater drones have now mapped the underside of Antarctica's sea ice, revealing algae and other organisms that live within this icy ecosystem.

Researchers work on the Antarctic sea ice in tents covering holes within the ice. From there, scientists launch torpedo-shaped underwater drones through the holes to map the underside of the sea ice.

"The drone was actually designed to study the sea bed and map factors such as sediment types, but our Australian colleagues modified the drone so that it now looks up toward the bottom of the sea ice and measures the light coming through the ice with a radiometer," said Lars Chresten Lund Hansen, one of the researchers, in a news release.

Ice algae on the bottom of the ice absorb light at certain wavelengths, and the radiometer measures how much or how little light is absorbed at these wavelengths. Based on the light measurements, the researchers can calculate the amount of algal biomass under the ice, and thereby get an idea of where the ice algae are located and how many there are. The drone actually follows a pre-programmed course and it maps the distribution of ice algae over very large areas where studies have not previously been possible.

Currently, the researchers hope to understand what factors regulate the distribution of the algae. There are some indications that the rough texture of the ice plays an important role in algal colonization. Currently, though, studies are still ongoing.

Algae actually play a huge role in the Antarctic ecosystem. Ice algae begins growing as soon as the sun emerges in early spring. They're the first producers of food for krill and other zooplankton in the food chain.

"The ice algae account for 15 to 20 percent of the primary production in the Antarctic sea ice area," said Brian Sorrell, one of the researchers. "They're particularly important because they utilize the weak light in spring, when there are no other primary producers to provide food and energy for the rest of the food chain."

Want to see the drone launch? Check out the video below, courtesy of YouTube.

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