Coastal Antarctic benthos and sea-ice biophysical properties are intricately linked in a dynamic manner, exhibiting significant spatial and temporal variations. Predicted changes in seasonal sea-ice features raise questions about our current ability to effectively monitor ice-covered marine habitat composition and function, across multiple spatio-temporal scales.
Underwater imaging spectroscopy, also known as hyperspectral imaging, hold promise as a non-invasive approach to revolutionize monitoring of under-ice environments. We present preliminary results from HICYBOT 1.0, a remotely operated vehicle designed to conduct hyperspectral benthic and sympagic surveys, and it's potential to monitor pigmentation in phototrophic organisms at small spatial scales (cm).
Deployed in the shallow regions of the Ross Sea, part of the world's largest marine protected area renowned for its pristine ecosystem and biodiversity, our initial mission aimed to achieve three primary objectives: A) to deliver georeferenced hyperspectral strips of the seafloor and overlying sea-ice, B) to evaluate both supervised and unsupervised spectral classification algorithms for seafloor characterization, and C) to quantify phototrophic biomass beneath the overlying ice cover. This system represents a significant advancement in Antarctic coastal monitoring technologies, poised to elucidate the intricate cryo-benthic interconnections and their response to evolving sea-ice dynamics.