A Meeting of Giants: Brazil–Malvinas Confluence
In the depths of Argentina’s Exclusive Economic Zone, two of the most powerful ocean currents on Earth converge in the Mar del Plata Submarine Canyon. One is warm and salty — the Brazil Current. The other is cold and nutrient-rich — the Malvinas Current. Together, they form the Brazil–Malvinas Confluence, one of the most energetic marine regions in the world.
These currents play a prominent role in redistributing heat from the tropics to the poles, helping regulate the planet’s climate. Scientists have long known that such currents sustain submarine canyon ecosystems, but until now, their effects in this region have never been directly visualized.
The Talud Continental IV expedition aims to explore the diversity and distribution of deep-sea communities in one of Argentina’s largest underwater canyons — a mission combining cutting-edge technology, international collaboration, and a dash of public enthusiasm.
A Decade of Discovery — and What Comes Next
The canyon’s story in science began over a decade ago. In 2012 and 2013, Argentine researchers carried out three earlier expeditions (Talud Continental I–III). Equipped only with fishing nets and trawls, they discovered new species and produced over 60 scientific papers. These efforts launched the careers of many marine biology students and revealed cold-water coral habitats teeming with fish and invertebrates.
But even with these important findings, the canyon’s biodiversity remained a mystery. The exact distribution of these ecosystems and the relationships between species were poorly understood.
Now, for the first time, scientists will use the ROV SuBastian — a remotely operated submarine robot — to make direct observations of the seafloor in situ. Led by Dr. Daniel Lauretta of the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales Bernardino Rivadavia – CONICET, this mission will establish a foundation for future research, conservation, and resource management.
Where Two Currents Collide
The Malvinas Current flows northward from Antarctica along Argentina’s continental shelf, bringing cold, nutrient-dense waters from the Southern Ocean. Extending from the surface to the seafloor, it fuels marine life along Argentina’s coast and underpins the country’s $2 billion USD fishing industry.
The Brazil Current, by contrast, flows southward from the Equator, carrying warm, salty waters no deeper than 700 m.
When these two water masses meet near the Río de la Plata, they form a thermocline — a sharp boundary created by differences in temperature and salinity. This zone produces swirling eddies, redistributes heat, and likely creates a biogeographic boundary: tropical species in the north, temperate species in the south, and a unique mix of both in the confluence itself.
The Canyon Itself
The Mar del Plata Canyon plunges more than 3,500 m — over two miles — below the surface. It slices through the vast Patagonia Shelf, an underwater platform of roughly 1.2 million km² — similar in size to South Africa.
Because Argentina’s continental shelf is generally shallow, the canyon lies far offshore, acting as a bridge between the continental slope and the abyssal plain.
Tools to Reveal Hidden Life
This 20-day expedition aboard the research vessel Falkor (too) marks the first time Argentine scientists can access such advanced equipment:
-
ROV SuBastian for high-resolution filming and sample collection
-
Lander traps for capturing zooplankton and amphipods
-
eDNA samplers to detect species presence through genetic traces in the water
-
Core samplers for studying sediments, carbon cycling, and pollution
Given the canyon’s proximity to Buenos Aires Province — home to over 17 million people — scientists expect to find evidence of plastic pollution alongside pristine habitats.
What They Hope to Find
Beyond documenting coral gardens and intricate animal communities, the team hopes to discover entirely new species. By mapping where and how these communities live, they will be able to:
-
Understand ecosystem connectivity
-
Identify vulnerable habitats
-
Inform conservation and fisheries management
It is also a rare chance to bring the public directly into the heart of deep-sea science. The mission is streamed live on YouTube and national TV, with scientists narrating their findings in real time. Viewers engage actively, sending encouragement, jokes, and even nicknames for the animals — from a “Patrick Star” starfish to the flamboyant “Drag Queen” crab.
For Argentine science — facing budget cuts, reduced salaries, and a brain drain of talent — the mission is more than just research. As biologist Tomás Atilio Luppi puts it, it is “a beacon of light” in challenging times, showing that curiosity and wonder can unite a nation.
Glossary
Dive stream
→ A live video showing an underwater exploration.
📝 The dive stream from the Mar del Plata Canyon has reached over 1 million viewers.
📘 Transmisión de inmersión
Submarine robot
→ A remote-controlled machine used to explore the ocean floor.
📝 Scientists are operating a submarine robot to explore deep underwater ecosystems.
📘 Robot submarino
Ethereal
→ Very delicate, light, and beautiful in a way that seems not real.
📝 YouTube users were amazed by the ethereal sea creatures seen during the dive.
📘 Etéreo / celestial
Cheeky
→ Playful or a little rude in a charming or amusing way.
📝 Viewers loved the cheeky orange starfish that looked like Patrick Star.
📘 Travieso / descarado
Outreach
→ The act of connecting with the public or community, often for education or support.
📝 The science team had never had such a wide outreach before this mission.
📘 Alcance / divulgación
Replay
→ Watching a recorded version of a live event.
📝 The replay of the dive stream has more viewers than most other videos in Argentina.
📘 Repetición
Converge
→ To come together from different directions to meet at the same place.
📝 The cold Malvinas current and the warm Brazil current converge in the canyon.
📘 Converger / unirse
Nutrient-rich
→ Containing a lot of substances that help plants and animals grow.
📝 The Malvinas Current brings cold, nutrient-rich water from the south.
📘 Rico en nutrientes
Beacon of light
→ A sign of hope or inspiration during difficult times.
📝 Lupy said the project was a beacon of light during tough times for science.
📘 Un faro de esperanza
Brain drain
→ The movement of educated people from one country to another for better opportunities.
📝 Low salaries are causing a brain drain of scientists in Argentina.
📘 Fuga de cerebros
Public spending
→ Money used by the government to fund services like health, education, and science.
📝 Budget cuts to public spending have affected scientific research in Argentina.
📘 Gasto público
Budget cuts
→ Reductions in the amount of money available for a project or institution.
📝 CONICET’s budget was cut by 21% last year.
📘 Recortes presupuestarios
Listen to the short report about the Mar del Plata Canyon dive and fill in the blanks with the correct word from the glossary. There are more words than spaces.
Sophia introduces a live underwater dive from the Mar del Plata Canyon, located 4,500 meters below the ocean. The (1) ________ has already attracted over 1 million viewers. People are especially excited about the strange and beautiful sea animals, including a (2) ________ orange starfish that looks like Patrick from SpongeBob.
The expedition is led by 25 scientists using a (3) ________ to explore where the Malvinas Current, cold and (4) ________, and the Brazil Current, warm and salty, (5) ________.
Thomas Luppi, the head of the research team, says science in Argentina is facing big problems, especially with (6) ________, low salaries, and staff shortages. He calls this project a (7) ________ during a difficult time.