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Exploration of Ellsworth Subglacial Lake: a concept paper on the development, organisation and execution of an experiment to explore, measure and sample the environment of a West Antarctic subglacial lake

Exploration of Ellsworth Subglacial Lake: a concept paper on the development, organisation and execution of an experiment to explore, measure and sample the environment of a West Antarctic subglacial lake
Exploration of Ellsworth Subglacial Lake: a concept paper on the development, organisation and execution of an experiment to explore, measure and sample the environment of a West Antarctic subglacial lake
Antarctic subglacial lakes have, over the past few years, been hypothesised to house unique forms of life and hold detailed sedimentary records of past climate change. Testing this hypothesis requires in situ examinations. The direct measurement of subglacial lakes has been considered ever since the largest and best-known lake, named Lake Vostok, was identified as having a deep water-column. The Subglacial Antarctic Lake Environments (SALE) programme, set up by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) to oversee subglacial lakes research, state that prior exploration of smaller lakes would be a “prudent way forward”. Over 145 subglacial lakes are known to exist in Antarctica, but one lake in West Antarctica, officially named Ellsworth Subglacial Lake (referred to hereafter as Lake Ellsworth), stands out as a candidate for early exploration. A consortium of over 20 scientists from seven countries and 14 institutions has been assembled to plan the exploration of Lake Ellsworth. An eight-year programme is envisaged: 3 years for a geophysical survey, 2 years for equipment development and testing, 1 year for field planning and operation, and 2 years for sample analysis and data interpretation. The science experiment is simple in concept but complex in execution. Lake Ellsworth will be accessed using hot water drilling. Once lake access is achieved, a probe will be lowered down the borehole and into the lake. The probe will contain a series of instruments to measure biological, chemical and physical characteristics of the lake water and sediments, and will utilise a tether to the ice surface through which power, communication and data will be transmitted. The probe will pass through the water column to the lake floor. The probe will then be pulled up and out of the lake, measuring its environment continually as this is done. Once at the ice surface, any water samples collected will be taken from the probe for laboratory analysis (to take place over subsequent years). The duration of the science mission, from deployment of the probe to its retrieval, is likely to take between 24 and 36 h. Measurements to be taken by the probe will provide data about the following: depth, pressure, conductivity and temperature; pH levels; biomolecules (using life marker chips); anions (using a chemical analyzer); visualisation of the environment (using cameras and light sources); dissolved gases (using chromatography); and morphology of the lake floor and sediment structures (using sonar). After the probe has been retrieved, a sediment corer may be dropped into the lake to recover material from the lake floor. Finally, if time permits, a thermistor string may be left in the lake water to take time-dependent measurements of the lake’s water column over subsequent years. Given that the comprehensive geophysical survey of the lake will take place in two seasons during 2007–2009, a two-year instrument and logistic development phase from 2008 (after the lake’s bathymetry has been assessed) makes it possible that the exploration of Lake Ellsworth could take place at the beginning of the next decade.
subglacial lakes, extreme environments, exploration, antarctica
1569-1705
161-179
Siegert, M.J.
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Behar, A.
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Bentley, M.
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Blake, D.
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Christoffersen, P.
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Cockell, C.
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Corr, H.
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Cullen, D.C.
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Edwards, H.
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Ellery, A.
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Ellis-Evans, C.
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Griffiths, G.
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Hindmarsh, R.
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Hodgson, D.A.
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Mowlem, M.
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Tranter, M.
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Wadham, J.L.
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Wilson, G.
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Blake, D.
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Christoffersen, P.
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Corr, H.
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Cullen, D.C.
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Edwards, H.
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Griffiths, G.
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King, E.
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Makinson, K.
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Mowlem, M.
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Parnell, J.
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Pearce, D.A.
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Priscu, J.
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Rivera, A.
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Sephton, M.A.
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Sims, M.R.
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Smith, A.R.
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Tranter, M.
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Wadham, J.L.
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Wilson, G.
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Woodward, J.
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Siegert, M.J., Behar, A., Bentley, M., Blake, D., Christoffersen, P., Cockell, C., Corr, H., Cullen, D.C., Edwards, H., Ellery, A., Ellis-Evans, C., Griffiths, G., Hindmarsh, R., Hodgson, D.A., King, E., Lamb, H., Lane, L., Makinson, K., Mowlem, M., Parnell, J., Pearce, D.A., Priscu, J., Rivera, A., Sephton, M.A., Sims, M.R., Smith, A.R., Tranter, M., Wadham, J.L., Wilson, G. and Woodward, J. (2007) Exploration of Ellsworth Subglacial Lake: a concept paper on the development, organisation and execution of an experiment to explore, measure and sample the environment of a West Antarctic subglacial lake. Reviews in Environmental Science and Biotechnology, 6 (1-3), 161-179. (doi:10.1007/s11157-006-9109-9).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Antarctic subglacial lakes have, over the past few years, been hypothesised to house unique forms of life and hold detailed sedimentary records of past climate change. Testing this hypothesis requires in situ examinations. The direct measurement of subglacial lakes has been considered ever since the largest and best-known lake, named Lake Vostok, was identified as having a deep water-column. The Subglacial Antarctic Lake Environments (SALE) programme, set up by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) to oversee subglacial lakes research, state that prior exploration of smaller lakes would be a “prudent way forward”. Over 145 subglacial lakes are known to exist in Antarctica, but one lake in West Antarctica, officially named Ellsworth Subglacial Lake (referred to hereafter as Lake Ellsworth), stands out as a candidate for early exploration. A consortium of over 20 scientists from seven countries and 14 institutions has been assembled to plan the exploration of Lake Ellsworth. An eight-year programme is envisaged: 3 years for a geophysical survey, 2 years for equipment development and testing, 1 year for field planning and operation, and 2 years for sample analysis and data interpretation. The science experiment is simple in concept but complex in execution. Lake Ellsworth will be accessed using hot water drilling. Once lake access is achieved, a probe will be lowered down the borehole and into the lake. The probe will contain a series of instruments to measure biological, chemical and physical characteristics of the lake water and sediments, and will utilise a tether to the ice surface through which power, communication and data will be transmitted. The probe will pass through the water column to the lake floor. The probe will then be pulled up and out of the lake, measuring its environment continually as this is done. Once at the ice surface, any water samples collected will be taken from the probe for laboratory analysis (to take place over subsequent years). The duration of the science mission, from deployment of the probe to its retrieval, is likely to take between 24 and 36 h. Measurements to be taken by the probe will provide data about the following: depth, pressure, conductivity and temperature; pH levels; biomolecules (using life marker chips); anions (using a chemical analyzer); visualisation of the environment (using cameras and light sources); dissolved gases (using chromatography); and morphology of the lake floor and sediment structures (using sonar). After the probe has been retrieved, a sediment corer may be dropped into the lake to recover material from the lake floor. Finally, if time permits, a thermistor string may be left in the lake water to take time-dependent measurements of the lake’s water column over subsequent years. Given that the comprehensive geophysical survey of the lake will take place in two seasons during 2007–2009, a two-year instrument and logistic development phase from 2008 (after the lake’s bathymetry has been assessed) makes it possible that the exploration of Lake Ellsworth could take place at the beginning of the next decade.

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Postprint_Lake_Ellsworth_Concept_Paper.doc - Accepted Manuscript
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More information

Published date: August 2007
Additional Information: Review paper
Keywords: subglacial lakes, extreme environments, exploration, antarctica

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 42022
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/42022
ISSN: 1569-1705
PURE UUID: b391bf0d-4e19-43aa-ae5d-9d33d71b9ae2
ORCID for M. Mowlem: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-7613-6121

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Date deposited: 03 Nov 2006
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 03:08

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Contributors

Author: M.J. Siegert
Author: A. Behar
Author: M. Bentley
Author: D. Blake
Author: P. Christoffersen
Author: C. Cockell
Author: H. Corr
Author: D.C. Cullen
Author: H. Edwards
Author: A. Ellery
Author: C. Ellis-Evans
Author: G. Griffiths
Author: R. Hindmarsh
Author: D.A. Hodgson
Author: E. King
Author: H. Lamb
Author: L. Lane
Author: K. Makinson
Author: M. Mowlem ORCID iD
Author: J. Parnell
Author: D.A. Pearce
Author: J. Priscu
Author: A. Rivera
Author: M.A. Sephton
Author: M.R. Sims
Author: A.R. Smith
Author: M. Tranter
Author: J.L. Wadham
Author: G. Wilson
Author: J. Woodward

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