Researchers are equipping elephant seals and self-propelled water gliders with monitoring devices to uncover the mysteries of the oceans and enhance knowledge of the effects of climate change. Oceans play a crucial role in regulating the Earth's climate by absorbing heat and redistributing it globally, as well as absorbing significant amounts of carbon dioxide, mitigating the speed of climate change. However, scientists emphasize the importance of expanding a worldwide monitoring system, with the Southern Ocean between Australia and Antarctica being particularly significant. The Southern Ocean serves as a significant reservoir for human-produced carbon emissions and is a driving force behind the Earth's climate system. "To comprehend the pace of climate change, it is crucial to grasp the ocean processes such as the speed at which it can store heat and carbon," stated Susan Wijffels, an oceanographer and group leader at Australia's Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS). Speaking to Reuters from a climate conference in Hobart, Tasmania, she emphasized that the ocean's actions impact the rate at which the climate system operates and the localized climate change patterns. Researchers also aim to enhance their knowledge of natural ocean cycles that influence terrestrial weather in order to enhance long-term forecasts for agriculture and urban water management. IMOS brings together scientists from Australian universities, research institutions, as well as from the United States, Asia, and Europe. With recent funding, the team plans to equip around 100 elephant seals to gather data from the depths surrounding Antarctica. A small device with an antenna is attached to the heads of seals in order to measure temperature, salinity, and pressure while the animals are diving for food. In addition, self-propelled gliders approximately 2 meters long will be used in the waters around Australia to collect data at depths of up to 1,500 meters. These gliders, equipped with wings and a rudder, are capable of remaining at sea for extended periods of time and can be operated remotely. The main focus of this research is the sea ice surrounding Antarctica, where traditional self-propelled measurement devices, known as Argos, struggle to function effectively due to their need to surface regularly to transmit data to satellites. Argos devices are cylindrical in shape and can descend to depths of up to 2 km. Thousands of Argos have been sent out worldwide, with new models being created to detect breaks in sea ice and transmit data. Wijffels noted that the oceans beneath the ice are not well observed by current systems, and there is evidence suggesting that heat from the ocean may be contributing to the destabilization of ice shelves in Greenland and Antarctica. If all the ice in Greenland were to melt, it could raise sea levels by 7 meters (23 feet), scientists warn. Increasing levels of carbon dioxide are causing oceans to become more acidic, which is impacting the ability of sea creatures to form shells. There is concern that this increased acidity could hinder the ocean's ability to absorb carbon. The program also seeks to enhance monitoring of significant currents around Australia that transport heat globally, including through the Lombok Strait near Bali in Indonesia, using deep-ocean moorings. While such measurements are more prevalent in the North Atlantic, there is a significant lack of data in the Southern Hemisphere, according to Wijffels.