Experts are hoping that by monitoring underwater acoustic waves, they will be able to determine where MH370 hit the ocean and whether it took an unknown flight path. The idea was first proposed by scientists at Cardiff University in 2017, who said that the acoustic waves are similar to when an object hits water. While the object makes physical ripples, it also creates ‘hydroacoustic’ waves beneath the surface.
However, since the proposal in 2017, the scientists have a much better understanding of hydroacoustic waves and now believe they can narrow down the search perimeter for MH370.
These waves are monitored by three underwater microphones called hydrophones, rub by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation.
Two signals were picked up by the hydrophones on March 8, 2014, shortly after MH370 disappeared.
The first, known as HA01, was off Cape Leeuwin, Western Australia, while the second, known as HA08s, is at Diego Garcia – a British Indian Ocean territory around 1,000 kilometres south of the Maldives.
Now, scientists are calling on authorities to re-open the investigation and believe by analysing the hydroacoustic waves, the may one day conclude one of modern history’s greatest mysteries.
Usama Kadri, a lecturer of applied mathematics at Cardiff University, wrote in a think-piece for the Conversation: “In light of this research, we recommended that signals recorded at all times between 11.00pm (March 7) and 4.00am (March 8) UTC, at both stations HA01 and HA08s are analysed with no exception.
“And that this is done independently from other sources (such as satellite data), to minimise inclusion of uncertainties related to them.
“These recommendations have been communicated to the MH370 Safety Investigation Team in Malaysia, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, and other relevant authorities with the hope that the search will be resumed to find the missing aircraft.”
However, Prof Kadri said there is still uncertainty surrounding the signals.
He continued: “The locations of signals found using HA08s data do come with high uncertainty but still require further detailed and careful analysis.
“Unfortunately, on top of the noisy recorded signals, 25 minutes of data from HA08s is missing.”
On March 8, 2014, a Boeing 777 Malaysian Airlines flight carrying 239 vanished over the Indian Ocean without a trace, leaving the world baffled.
Almost five years later, experts are no closer to solving the mystery and had officially given up on the search in early 2018.
Chief Investigator Kok Soo Chon said: “We cannot determine with any certainty the reason the plane diverted from its planned route.
“The team is unable to determine the real reason for the disappearance.”.