Lost Antarctic Submarine Ran Leaves Behind Detailed Maps of Hidden Ice Shelf Terrain
A seven-meter autonomous submarine named Ran mapped the underside of the Dotson Ice Shelf in West Antarctica before vanishing during a 2024 return mission. Its 2022 survey revealed complex terrain, including terraces and teardrop-shaped pits, linked to varying melt rates and water currents. The loss of Ran makes its data the most detailed record of the area, highlighting how different physical processes shape the ice base.