Yeah, but now imagine the cost of putting large active electronics 4,000 meters down on the sea floor and keeping it running, and getting the data back off it... The cost of running the drill rig seen in the photos of the icecube detector would be a fraction of that.
replyThat’s also a thing, e.g. in the Mediterranean.
replywhy would "ship it there and chuck overboard" be easier than "crawler train it there and chuck overboard"?
replyBecause shipping is easier than trucking at subzero temperatures on roads constantly being covered in snow.
replyAlso, we've been shipping by water much longer than we've been trucking things on wheels, because the tech is easier: get on floaty wood and paddle.