Battling choppy waves and high winds, three engineers pulled ashore the UK’s most famous robot, Boaty McBoatface, this week. With sheets of water pouring from its body, Boaty was winched up after spending 55 days at sea on an ambitious scientific mission from Iceland. “It’s a bit slimy, and ocean smells have seeped in. There’s a few things growing on it,” says Rob Templeton, one of the engineers involved, now dismantling the 3.6-meter long submarine on the Isle of Harris.
Boaty's epic trip covered over 2,000 kilometers and could revolutionize what we know about climate change. The robot was tasked with hunting for marine snow—essentially organic material like tiny particles produced by marine life, which sink to the ocean floor and store significant amounts of carbon. This mission veered to the depths of the ocean, known as the “twilight zone,” where Boaty served as the eyes and ears for scientists attempting to understand complex oceanic processes.
The concept of marine snow neatly summarizes the subtle interactions of the ocean environment. When tiny plants absorb carbon at the water's surface, marine creatures consume these plants and produce waste particles, which are part of what scientists refer to as marine snow. These particles then settle at the bottom of the ocean, effectively sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, one of several factors driving climate change.
Boaty's recent mission was not just another thrilling story of technological capability; it held the potential for significant scientific insight. The deep ocean serves as the Earth's largest long-term carbon reservoir, but many of its processes remain largely mysterious. The automated submarine was equipped with more than 20 sensors to monitor biological and chemical conditions, including nutrient levels, oxygen levels, photosynthesis, and temperature, as it cruised at 1.1 meters per second.
Now, you might ask—how did Boaty get its quirky name? Back in 2016, the public voted for the name for a polar research ship, and though the name didn't stick for the ship itself, it found its destiny on the fleet of autonomous underwater vehicles managed by the National Oceanography Centre (NOC).
Rob Templeton remarked, “Boaty has absolutely passed. It’s a massive relief,” after the successful mission. Engineers continuously communicated with Boaty through satellite messaging to manage its operations, sending commands for dives, destinations, and sensor activations. This close monitoring was critical during such extensive marine explorations.
This venture is part of the BioCarbon project, coordinated by the NOC, the University of Southampton, and Heriot-Watt University. The project aims to gather invaluable data about the ocean’s biological carbon pump—a process where carbon is sequestered thanks to the natural life cycles of oceanic organisms. By delving deep, scientists hope to answer some pressing questions about the mechanism and effectiveness of ocean carbon storage.
“Our climate would be significantly warmer if the carbon pump wasn't there,” explains Dr. Stephanie Henson, one of the researchers involved. She highlighted how without this process, atmospheric carbon dioxide levels would be about 50% higher than they are now. Despite our oceans' critical role, modeling this process accurately remains challenging.
The subarctic waters off Iceland provide the perfect scene for such research. Springtime there sees enormous blooms of phytoplankton—the plants consuming carbon—which serve as food for the zooplankton, the animal kingdom's tiny counterparts. Notably, their waste products—the marine snow—become important players in the carbon storage game.
During Boaty's mission, the researchers recorded smaller-than-expected blooms, hinting at potential changes due to climate impact. Dr. Henson worried, “If this trend were to continue, it would mean the biological carbon pump could be weakening, resulting potentially in more CO2 remaining trapped in the atmosphere.” This preliminary data could spell trouble for future climate modeling efforts.
Beyond monitoring existing species, the BioCarbon project also looks toward the future—the controversial field of geoengineering. Some scientists and entrepreneurs are actively exploring whether we can artificially modify ocean chemistry to increase carbon absorption, but there’s plenty of debate and skepticism surrounding these experimental approaches. Dr. Adrian Martin emphasizes, “If you’re going to make interventions, you need to understand the consequences,” advocating caution as our planet steers toward uncertain waters.
With this mission concluded, Boaty has begun its trip back to Southampton. Soon after, scientists plan to revisit Iceland to compare their findings from spring to what they will observe later this autumn. Clarifying these connections may yield valuable insights as climate change continues to evolve.
This quirky yellow submarine may have first caught the public’s eye with its playful name, but it's proving to be more than just an internet sensation. Boaty McBoatface is aiding researchers at the forefront of the battle against climate change, and its stories from the deep sea hold the promise of new understandings, helping us grasp how our warming planet affects the delicate balance of marine life and carbon cycles.
The contribution of the ocean's twilight zone and the functioning of the biological carbon pump is pivotal—it can significantly alter our comprehension of climate dynamics. With every mission, every drop, and every measurement, Boaty adds to the narrative of how we might better understand and address the looming challenges our planet faces. A scientifically savvy hero with absurdly charming branding, Boaty McBoatface may just steer us toward solutions we haven't even fully realized yet.
