HAUWAI-20 is a collaboration between the New Zealand Antarctic Science Platform and the University of Waikato.
Exploration of changing sea ice set for 2025
Momentum continues on the University of Waikato Professor Craig Cary’s legacy, the HAUWAI-20 project
HAUWAI-20, a groundbreaking project conceived by the late Professor Craig Cary, has had its Antarctic deployment timeline extended to allow for further testing and development.
About HAUWAI-20
HAUWAI-20 stands for “High-capacity Autonomous UnderWater sampler for AntarctIca 2020” and is a first-of-its-kind instrument designed to better understand sea ice as a critical habitat for marine animals and thus uncover the impact of changing sea ice norms on Antarctic marine ecosystems.
HAUWAI-20 is a collaboration between the New Zealand Antarctic Science Platform and the University of Waikato. Project lead and Director of the University’s Te Tumu Whakaora Taiao The Environmental Research Institute (ERI) Dr Charles Lee says the project team has been adapting to unique challenges and learning useful lessons along the way as they diligently work to deliver Professor Cary’s vision of conducting autonomous measurements and sampling of the biological communities underneath Antarctic sea ice.
Fulfilling the vision of Professor Cary
Professor Cary was a highly respected and dedicated member of the University’s academic community, contributing significantly to its research landscape. On 29 February 2024, Professor Cary passed away unexpectedly on campus, which was a great loss for his colleagues around New Zealand and the world.
He dedicated 20 years to the University and more than 40 years to the study of microbial life in extreme environments, including deep-sea hydrothermal vents and Antarctic soils.
Professor Cary participated in over 29 deep-sea expeditions to hydrothermal vents, 45 dives in research submersibles and spent 18 seasons conducting groundbreaking research in Antarctica with over 22 deployments.
HAUWAI-20 was one of his final projects; a ground-breaking concept to create an autonomous sampler that would withstand the environmental challenges of Antarctica and allow scientists to obtain year-round biological samples underneath sea ice. HAUWAI-20 was constructed overseas under the directions of Professor Cary, who passed away on the day it was delivered to the University.
Professor Cary’s bold vision and motivation to enhance the scientific community’s understanding of life in Antarctica is a driving force behind the team’s commitment to see this project through.
HAUWAI-20 project progress
The operationalisation of HAUWAI-20 has been a team effort across all levels of the University, says Dr Lee.
Following its delivery to New Zealand in February 2024, the project team has taken a thorough approach to ensuring the success of HAUWAI-20 when it is deployed in Antarctica.
On the final test run before completing packaging and shipping it to Antarctica in September 2024, an unexpected fault was discovered. Compounded with unfavourable sea ice conditions for deploying the equipment, the team decided to postpone the first deployment of HAUWAI-20 in Antarctica to the 2025/26 season. Dr Lee says momentum has not been lost, and with more time on their side, the team will now focus on undertaking more testing, including a full trial in Tauranga Harbour. Sea ice conditions also look to be optimal for deployment later this year.
An ROV view of the conduit emerging into the ocean at 20m depth (which will be used for pulling through the Hauwai cable) and the heat trace emerging from the end.
During the 2024/25 Antarctica season, the University’s Professor Ian Hawes and field-based Technical Team Leader Kat Rowe made significant progress preparing the deployment site at Scott Base. A key focus was the conduit for the HAUWAI-20 umbilical cable, which provides power and data connectivity and was drilled through the Scott Base foreshore to emerge at 20 m depth under Professor Cary’s supervision during his last Antarctic field season. Kat and Professor Hawes used a remotely operated vehicle to precisely locate and inspect the conduit at its exit from the sea floor, ensured that the built-in heat trace was correctly installed to keep the conduit open through the Antarctic winter.
Dr Lee says the motivation to get HAUWAI-20 to Antarctica is as strong as ever, and any delay is all part of the process.
“Uncovering new variables and challenges to resolve is common territory when working on the cutting edge of science exploration, particularly when you add in the extreme working environment of Antarctica. We would much rather be making these discoveries now than when it’s in Antarctica, where hardware and electronics stores are a little harder to get to.”
The team has continued support from the University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research Professor Gary Wilson and the Antarctic Science Platform.