Oceanographic buoys launched from the icebreaker “Noosfera” for the first time

In March, Ukrainian scientists launched six argobuoys from the Noosphere into Antarctic waters.

This is a first not only for our polar explorers studying the Southern Ocean, but for Ukraine in general, the National Antarctic Research Center reports.

“Argobuoys are innovative autonomous underwater measurement equipment that does not have an engine and moves with the current. They determine temperature, salinity and pressure at different depths. Then, via satellite, together with GPS coordinates, they transmit this data to a global database. Currently, the sending will be carried out every 10 days,” the scientists noted.

Thanks to these devices, scientists will be able to learn more about changes in currents in the Southern Ocean due to significant inflow of fresh water, as well as about other processes.

The scientists also recorded on video how the argobuoys were launched from a research vessel.

It should be noted that the research is being carried out within the framework of the OCEAN ICE project of the EU Horizon Europe program and is funded by the EU together with the UK Department for Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Recall that last year it became known that more international projects would be hosted on the icebreaker “Noosfera”.