Context: A team of scientists may have discovered dozens of new species, including giant sea spiders, octopi, and corals on the newly exposed seafloor left behind by the enormous A-84 iceberg that broke away from the George VI Ice Shelf on January 13.

Background: –

• The break-away of the 510-sq-km iceberg gave access to an underwater world that was previously beyond human reach. A remotely-operated submersible got to the seafloor on January 25, where it captured photos and videos, and collected specimens.

Key takeaways

• The mission was part of Challenger 150, a UNESCO-endorsed global initiative for deep-sea research.
• Using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), scientists explored the seafloor for eight days, and found flourishing ecosystems at depths of up to 1,300 metres.
• The reason scientists were surprised to find diverse ecosystems under the ice shelf is that deep-sea communities typically depend on photosynthesising organisms to rain down nutrients from the surface to the seafloor. However, Antarctic ecosystems have been covered by 150-metre-thick ice for centuries, completely cut off from surface nutrients.
• Scientists have hypothesised that ocean currents, glacial meltwater or something else could be transporting essential nutrients, sustaining life beneath the ice shelf. The precise mechanism fueling these ecosystems is yet to be understood.

Challenger 150 Mission

• The Challenger 150 is a global scientific initiative, endorsed by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC/UNESCO), aimed at enhancing our understanding of deep-sea ecosystems.
• Launched in alignment with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), its mission is to map life in the deep ocean and provide the scientific foundation necessary for sustainable management of these vast environments.

Source: Indian Express