On January 13, 2025, the iceberg A-84 calved from Antarctica’s George VI Ice Shelf. This iceberg is the size of the city of Chicago! This significant event prompted the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel Falkor to set sail for the iceberg’s location. Twelve days later, the ship arrived at the site. It carried all of the tools necessary to venture into the rich depths concealed under roughly 500 feet (150 m) of ice.
Below the surface, expedition leader and oceanographer Dr. To tackle the harsh underwater conditions, the expedition used the remotely operated submarine SuBastian. Instead, with heavy ice blocking GPS signals, the submarine had to navigate using sound waves. By the time the SuBastian arrived at the ocean floor, it had already revealed an astounding, never-before-seen ecosystem living in the darkness below.
His team’s newly discovered community is teeming with life, including giant palmate sponge, fish of all stripes, gargantuan sea spider and octopuses spanning three feet across. The astounding size of these organisms alone suggests that they have been growing for decades, if not centuries. This scientific revelation hints at a complex, beautiful, and thriving ecosystem that had been hidden away from human eyes until now.
Patricia Esquete, co-chief scientist of the expedition and a marine biologist at the University of Aveiro in Portugal. In her statement, she noted how important this find is.
“We seized upon the moment, changed our expedition plan, and went for it so we could look at what was happening in the depths below,” – Patricia Esquete.
The findings have excited researchers, with Jyotika Virmani, executive director of the Schmidt Ocean Institute, calling it a “serendipitous moment” in scientific exploration. She stated:
“Being right there when this iceberg calved from the ice shelf presented a rare scientific opportunity. Serendipitous moments are part of the excitement of research at sea — they offer the chance to be the first to witness the untouched beauty of our world.” – Jyotika Virmani.
This rare, firsthand look at the polar-ecosystem-altering realities that A-84 now faces demonstrates how unpredictably polar environments are changing. More importantly, it shows exhilarating prospects for continued investigation in fields we previously thought were uncharted. The expedition underscores the importance of continued research efforts in understanding and preserving these fragile ecosystems that have thrived undisturbed for centuries.
