Scientists explore the underwater world around Antarctica hidden for 120 thousand years. The marine ecosystem unfolds as the giant icebergs escape Larsen's ice exposure in July 2017. The iceberg, identified by the name A-68, is thought to have an astonishing weight of about one trillion tonnes. The ruins unravel the mysterious underwater world of 2,200 square miles. The research team led by the British Antarctic Survey traveled to the site this week to investigate further. For three weeks, they will collect animal and plant samples for study. "We put together teams with a variety of scientific skills in order to gather as much information as possible in a short time," expedition leader Katrin Linse of the British Antarctic Survey said. Sampling is expected to be completed before the environment previously under the ice sheet is changed. The team will collect seabed animals, microbes, planktons, sediments, and water samples. All will be examined to provide an overview of marine life beneath the ice sheet and ultimately trace ecosystem changes. The iceberg that collapsed last year reduced the size of ice exposure by 12 percent. Research in climate-sensitive areas is a new opportunity that has never existed before. Linse said, going to the Antarctic sea floor like a visit to the foreign world, quoted from USA Today page.
