Context
Recent research using autonomous vehicles for detailed underwater mapping has revealed new insights into the melting patterns of Antarctica’s ice shelves. These findings are essential for understanding the future behavior of the continent’s ice sheets and their potential impact on global sea levels.
About
- Underwater mapping includes the creation of true three-dimensional representation of the seabed and/or of the underneath of the ice shelves.
- Through sonar, lidar and other equipment, it creates improved images of water bodies of the globe.
- It can now be possible for researchers to study the processes of ice shelves, ocean currents, seabirds and whales feeding patterns among others.
Description
- Ice Shelf Geometry:By use of sonar mapping, one can obtain the exact geometric map of ice shelves and some of the features such as crevasses, ridges and grounding lines.
- Seafloor Topography:It has specifics of the geographic features of SE suburbs of the field in the form of topographical maps of the sea bottom revealing such features as a trench, a ridge and a sedimentary basin.
- Ocean Circulation:This kind of location of ocean currents and temperature differences is helpful in the identification of melting of ice shelves and behavior of the ocean.
- Marine Life:True to the current images, the warm blooded species like corals, sponges and fish are in different forms and can survive in places like under ice shelves.
Significance
- An enhanced knowledge base of glaciers and ice shelves and the contribution to the overall ocean circulation.
- Improved projections about the increased rise in sea level and change in circulation patterns of the oceans.
- The finding of new marine environments and other forms of aquatic life.
- Incorporating into the decision-making process for adaptation to climate change and the prevention of adverse impacts.
Pros
- Imaging and mapping with high accuracy.
- More effective and cheaper than other invasive procedures.
- Improved knowledge of various conditions that exist under water.
Cons
- Topographical difficulties or problems regarding the examination of deep or turbid waters.
- Computational work is central to data processing and analysis; this means a tremendous resource is consumed in the form of computation.
- Small coverage and rather low resolution in some parts of the body.
Challenges
- Technological Limitations: Self-learning of sensors’ limitations and enhancement of the quantitative assessment.
- Environmental Factors: Taking into consideration the movement of currents in oceans, deposition of sediments and breaking off of ice shelves.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Synthesizing glaciological, oceanographic and biological information.
Conclusion
- As the technology grows and as more scholars enter interdisciplinary research, people will become more familiar with these complex settings.
- The symbiosis of underwater mapping with climate modeling and policy will then support solutions to climate change issues and adaptation.
Source: The Hindu
UPSC Mains Practice Question
Q. The recent advancements in underwater mapping technology have significantly improved our understanding of ice shelves and their role in the Earth’s system. Discuss the significance of underwater mapping in understanding ice shelf dynamics and its implications for climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.