Eric Schmidt Funds Drone Boats to Study Antarctic Carbon Sink

Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google, is funding an ambitious project to deploy autonomous drone boats into the harsh waters surrounding Antarctica. The initiative, backed by Schmidt Sciences—a foundation founded by Schmidt and his wife Wendy—aims to collect critical data on the Southern Ocean, a crucial but poorly understood carbon sink. Over the next five years, the project will receive $45 million in funding to support scientific research into the global carbon cycle.

The Southern Ocean, which encircles Antarctica, absorbs approximately 40% of all ocean-based carbon dioxide despite being the second smallest ocean. However, scientists have limited data on why it is so effective at sequestering carbon. The region's extreme weather, strong currents, and thick cloud cover make traditional research and satellite observation difficult.

Drone boats, designed to withstand these tough conditions, will navigate beyond usual commercial ship routes to collect continuous data, even during winter. Equipped with advanced sensors, these remotely piloted vessels will measure variables like ocean temperature, currents, and the partial pressure of CO2, delivering more precise insights than previously possible.

Galen McKinley, an environmental sciences professor at Columbia University, highlights the ocean’s vital but poorly understood role in climate regulation. The project will use machine learning to optimize drone paths, maximizing data collection. The data gathered will be publicly accessible, aiding global scientific efforts.

This pioneering project could transform understanding of Antarctica’s ecological processes and inform climate change mitigation strategies. It reflects the increasing role of technology and private philanthropy in tackling environmental challenges.