[M-IS05] 南大洋・南極氷床が駆動する全球気候変動

[MIS05-P04] Development of Research Instruments for unexplored frontiers in the Southern Ocean and Antarctica

*野木 義史¹、青木 茂²、吉田 弘³、巻 俊宏⁴、沖野 郷子⁵、青山 雄一¹、末吉 哲雄¹、田村 岳史¹、山縣 広和⁴、藤井 昌和¹ (1.国立極地研究所、2.北海道大学低温科学研究所、3.海洋研究開発機構、4.東京大学生産技術研究所、5.東京大学大気海洋研究所)

キーワード：南大洋、南極氷床、無人観測機器、海氷

The Antarctic ice sheet holds 90% of ice, equivalent to approximately 70 m height of sea level. On the other hand, the Southern Ocean produces the densest seawater, called the Antarctic bottom water, which drives ocean circulation. The Antarctic ice sheet and the Southern Ocean are the most significant components that control global climate and sea level changes. However, the field observation data around ice shelf and sea ice areas is very poor because of the observation difficulties. The acquisition of the field observation data in the unexplored frontiers such as under ice shelf is vital to understand the interactions between the Southern Ocean and the Antarctic ice sheet.

Unmanned research instruments and vehicles, especially underwater robots, namely ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) and AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle), are required to acquire the field observation data in the unexplored area. The AUV is developing to obtain the oceanographical data in the border region between the ocean and the ice sheet. The ROV to assist the AUV operation and the acquisition of the oceanographic data is also customizing. The application of unmanned research vehicles and instruments is extended to the outcrops and ice sheet area in Antarctica. The present status of the observation instruments' development in the Southern Ocean and Antarctica is introduced, and the future application is also discussed.