The Antarctic research vessel 'Shirase' departed from Showa Station at the end of January and after more than a week of sailing eastward, it has arrived off the coast of the Totten Glacier. Since the 8th, the crew has been conducting oceanographic observations at latitude 66 degrees south, surrounded by numerous icebergs. Members of the 67th observation team have been measuring seawater and collecting sediment and biological samples from the ocean floor while observing various marine life, including curious whales that approached the ship multiple times.

As massive icebergs drift by, the crew navigates carefully around them while observing Emperor and Adélie penguins as well as seals on the sea ice. The Totten Glacier region has seen noticeable reductions in the continental ice sheet, as detected by satellite observations, drawing attention to the interactions between the sea and the ice. Past observations have indicated the invasion of warm seawater offshore, and the expedition is also investigating past marine environments from the sediment gathered from the seabed.

Katsuaki Suzuki, a marine geologist on the expedition, emphasized the importance of understanding how the continental ice sheet has expanded and retreated over time, suggesting that such knowledge could enhance predictions about future changes. The interplay between the ice on land, sea ice, ocean, and atmosphere is crucial for understanding climate dynamics, and this expedition anticipates revealing more about these complex interactions.