Hidden Antarctic Ecosystem Discovered Beneath Calved Iceberg

The breakup of the A-84 iceberg revealed a thriving deep-sea ecosystem, offering fresh insights into life in extreme environments and implications for climate change research.

The A-84 iceberg, the size of Chicago, calved from the George VI Ice Shelf in January 2025, exposing a previously hidden seafloor ecosystem.
Scientists discovered a vibrant community of deep-sea creatures, including corals, sponges, icefish, giant sea spiders, and potentially unknown species.
The ecosystem, likely sustained by ocean currents, has existed for decades or centuries despite being cut off from surface nutrients by thick ice cover.
The Schmidt Ocean Institute's ROV SuBastian enabled eight days of exploration at depths of up to 1,300 meters to document the ecosystem.
The findings provide critical data on Antarctic ice sheet changes, contributing to improved climate change projections and policy recommendations.