DIRECT MEASUREMENT & SAMPLING OF SUBGLACIAL LAKE ELLSWORTH: A multidisciplinary investigation of life in extreme environments & ice sheet history

直接测量

• 批准号: NE/G00322X/1
• 负责人: John Parnell
• 金额: $ 5.68万
• 依托单位: University of Aberdeen
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2009 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=NE%2FG00322X%2F1
• 关键词: DIRECT; MEASUREMENT; SAMPLING; SUBGLACIAL; LAKE

This project has two fundamental scientific aims: (1) to determine whether, and in what form, microbial life exists in Antarctic subglacial lakes, and (2) to determine the history of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. To meet these aims, we will undertake the direct measurement and sampling of water and sediment within Subglacial Lake Ellsworth in West Antarctica. For over a decade, scientists have regarded subglacial lakes to be extreme yet viable habitats for microbial life. Additionally, sedimentary palaeoenvironment records are thought to exist on the floors of subglacial lakes, which would provide critical insights into the glacial history of Antarctica. Of the >150 known subglacial lakes, Lake Ellsworth stands out as an ideal candidate for exploration. Through a NERC-AFI award, glaciologists have shown the lake, beneath 3 km of ice, to be 10 km long, 2-3 km wide and 160 m deep, confirming it as an ideal deep-water lake for exploration. The deployment of heavy equipment has been shown to be possible at this location, based on several deep-field reconnaissance studies. This project will build, test and deploy all the equipment necessary to complete the experiment in a clean and environmentally responsible manner. Samples will be analysed and split at laboratories in the field and at Rothera Station, and then distributed to laboratories across the UK. This project, which has been in a planning stage for four years, will be a benchmark exercise in the exploration of Antarctica, will make profound scientific discoveries regarding life in extreme environments and West Antarctic Ice Sheet history, and will be of genuine interest to the public and media.

该项目具有两个基本的科学目的：（1）确定南极亚冰川湖中是否存在微生物生命，以及（2）确定南极冰盖的历史。为了满足这些目标，我们将在南极洲西部的埃尔斯沃思亚冰川湖中进行直接测量和采样。十多年来，科学家认为亚冰湖是微生物生活的极端栖息地。此外，人们认为沉积古环境记录存在于冰山下湖的地板上，这将为南极洲的冰川历史提供关键的见解。在> 150个已知的冰山湖湖中，埃尔斯沃思湖（Lake Ellsworth）脱颖而出，是探索的理想候选人。通过NERC-AFI奖，冰川学家展示了3公里冰以下的湖泊，长10公里，宽2-3公里，深160 m，将其视为理想的探索深水湖。根据几项深场侦察研究，已显示重型设备的部署在此位置是可能的。该项目将以干净且对环境负责的方式建立，测试和部署所有必要的设备，以完成实验。样品将在现场和罗瑟拉车站的实验室进行分析和分割，然后分发给英国的实验室。该项目已经处于计划阶段已有四年了，它将是对南极探索的基准练习，将在极端环境和南极冰盖西部的生活中对生活产生深刻的科学发现，并将引起公众和媒体的真正兴趣。

项目成果

Clean subglacial access: prospects for future deep hot-water drilling.

• DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2014.0304
• 发表时间: 2016-01-28
• 期刊: Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences
• 作者: Makinson K;Pearce D;Hodgson DA;Bentley MJ;Smith AM;Tranter M;Rose M;Ross N;Mowlem M;Parnell J;Siegert MJ
• 通讯作者: Siegert MJ

Physical and chemical controls on habitats for life in the deep subsurface beneath continents and ice.

• DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2014.0293
• 发表时间: 2016-01-28
• 期刊: Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences
• 作者: Parnell J;McMahon S
• 通讯作者: McMahon S

Probe technologies for clean sampling and measurement of subglacial lakes.

用于冰下湖泊清洁采样和测量的探针技术。

• DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2015.0267
• 发表时间: 2016
• 期刊: Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences
• 作者: Mowlem M