An ocean first: Underwater drone tracks CO2 in Alaska gulf

The 1.52 meter long, bright pink underwater sea glider is part of the major step forward in ocean greenhouse gas monitoring. — HEATHER MCFARLAND/ University of Alaska Fairbanks

In the cold, choppy waters of Alaska’s Resurrection Bay, all eyes were on the gray water, looking for one thing only.

It wasn’t a spout from humpback whales that power through this scenic fjord, or a sea otter lazing on its back, munching a king crab.