Subglacial Antarctic Lake Subglacial Antarctic Lake Environments (SALE)Environments (SALE)
aaProposal for Proposal for
aaSCAR Scientific Research ProgramSCAR Scientific Research Program
bybyThe Subglacial Antarctic Lake Exploration The Subglacial Antarctic Lake Exploration
Group of Specialists (SALEGOS)Group of Specialists (SALEGOS)
The Time is Now for SALEThe Time is Now for SALE
HistoryHistory Scientific ObjectivesScientific Objectives Technological FeasibilityTechnological Feasibility Ten Year TimelineTen Year Timeline International ParticipationInternational Participation SALE and SCAR’s MissionSALE and SCAR’s Mission SALE and the IPYSALE and the IPY
1955-57 SAE data indicates that lakes may exist under the ice sheet (formalized Kapitsa et al. 1996)
1961 - Russian pilots note unusually ice surface 1963-64 - SAE seismic data - first evidence of liquid
water lakes under the ice sheet1973-75 - Radio-echo sounding confirms a lake under
Vostok Station
The History of SALE – First DiscoveryThe History of SALE – First Discovery
1994 - International workshop in Cambridge, UK formalizes Vostok data
1994 - Discovery of L. Vostok first reported, SCAR, Rome1998 - “Lake Vostok: Scientific Objectives and
Technological Requirements: An International Workshop”, St. Petersburg;” Lake Vostok
Workshop: A Curiosity or a Focus for Interdisciplinary Study”, Washington D.C.
1999 - “Workshop on Subglacial Lakes”, Cambridge, UK
The History of SALE – Renewed InterestThe History of SALE – Renewed Interest
Vostok Core
2000 - SCAR forms Group of Specialists on Subglacial Lake Exploration (SALEGOS)
2001 – 1st meeting of SCAR SALEGOS in Bologna, Italy2001 - “Subglacial Lake and Deep Ice Exploration: Canadian Expertise and International Opportunities”, Ottawa, Canada; “Life in Ancient Ice Workshop”, Oregon, USA; “Subglacial Lakes: Biology and Decontamination Issues” SCAR, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2002 – 2nd and 3rd meeting of SALEGOS and NSF Fastdrill Workshop - LDEO, NY and Santa Cruz, CA USA
International PlanningInternational Planning
International PlanningInternational Planning
2003 - “NSF Workshop to Define a Technology Roadmap for the Exploration and Sampling of Lake Vostok”, Palo Alto, CA, USA; 4th and 5th meeting of SALEGOS - Chamonix, France; Bristol, England
2004 – 6th Meeting of SALEGOS - Bremen, Germany
SALE - Scientific ObjectivesSALE - Scientific Objectives
To understand the formation To understand the formation and evolution of subglacial and evolution of subglacial processes and processes and environments;environments;
To determine the origins, To determine the origins, evolution, and maintenance evolution, and maintenance of life in subglacial lake of life in subglacial lake environments; andenvironments; and
To understand the limnology To understand the limnology and paleoclimate history and paleoclimate history recorded in subglacial recorded in subglacial sediments.sediments.
..
Subglacial Lake Environments are Widespread Vostok-Dome C Region
• 1A – Vostok Borehole and Ice Core Studies
• 1B – The Study of Analogue Settings• 1C- Remote Sensing Surveys of
Subglacial Lakes• 1D – Modeling of Subglacial Lakes
and Systems
• 2A - In situ Lake Observations• 2B – “Down-Ice Hole” Studies
Scientific Objectives
CryobotCryobot
Modern Velocities from GPS Samples Modern Velocities from GPS Samples 16,000-20000 years old16,000-20000 years old
Phase 1 – Remote Studies – Accreted Ice, Modeling, and Remote Sensing
Phase 2 – Deployment of Remotely Operated In Situ Observatories
Vostok Station
McMurdoStation
179 metersGlacial ice
50nm
3556 metersAccretion ice
25nm
2749 metersGlacial ice
80nmVirus images courtesy
J. PriscuMontana State
University Artwork - NSF
Glacial ice
25nm
1557 meters
Life Under the Ice
• 3A - Survey and Inventory of Subglacial Lakes
Phase 4 – Studies of Subglacial Lake Processes and Histories
Scientific Objectives
Phase 3 - Subglacial Lakes as Systems
Hydrobot
Waterlock Waterlock assemblyassembly
Diverter/disconnect
Downpipe ( 10m long)
Cylindrical winch
Upper ball valve
Lower ball valve
Completion drill / Cryobot/ROV
Coiled Tubing Drill
Probe prototype designed to withstand crushing pressures and extreme temperatures
Cryobot - moves through ice by melting the Cryobot - moves through ice by melting the surface directly in front of itsurface directly in front of it
Operational and Technological FeasibilityCryobotCryobot
Hydrobot - self-propelled underwater vehicle that Hydrobot - self-propelled underwater vehicle that analyzes the chemical composition of the ice and wateranalyzes the chemical composition of the ice and water
HydrobotHydrobot
Timeframe Scientific Milestones Technological MilestonesShort (0-3 years)Pre-Lake Entry and Survey
Medium (3-6 years)Lake EntryObservatory Deployment
Long (6-9 years)Lake EntryCritical Sample RetrievalVery Long (9+ years)Lake EntryLong Core Retrieval
1. Identification of a lead nation or at a minimum, the formation of aninterim planning group charged with conducting a StrategicEnvironmental Assessment (SEA) of the entire program.2. Make funds and access to field logistics available to conductsurveys.3. Convene a meeting of experts to develop decontaminationstandards and develop methods to monitor cleanliness. Examinethe availability of funds to implement these developments.4. Make funds available to develop clean methodologies, cleanlinesstesting methods (verification), and development of theinfrastructure to handle and process samples in appropriately cleanconditions to control and minimize contamination of samples withforeign materials.5. Availability of funds to develop the next generation of assays anddetection methodologies for extremophiles.6. Convene a meeting of experts to assess the status of currenttechnologies and compatibility with subglacial lake environmentsand access restrictions and provide plans for adapting thetechnologies as needed. Target indicators would be a relativelysimple set of parameters currently measured on oceanographicmoorings and buoys - temperature, pressure, salinity(conductivity), particulates, fluorescence, nutrients, and dissolvedoxygen. Sediment penetrometer/shear vane and geothermal heatflow detectors should also be considered.7. Make accreted ice samples available and provide funds to performanalyses in support of biological and geochemical objectives.8. Availability of funds to support modeling of the subglacial lakesystem from local to regional spatial scales and recent togeological time scales.9. Convene a meeting of experts to develop a long term plan forpaleoclimate and geological studies of subglacial lakes.10. Make funds available for development and feasibility testing ofsensors and remote detect ion techniques for geochemistry andbiology. Target indicators particulates, nutrients (N, P), DOC,bioparticles, bioreactive redox couples, microbes, and dissolvedgases (CH4, CO2, H2S, N2O, Ar, O2).11. Convene a meeting of experts to develop rigorous sample handlingprotocols base on experiences form Cape Roberts and the OceanDrilling Project.12. Make funds available to develop methodologies to determine therates of critical biological processes.13. Convene a meeting of experts to develop a long term plan forsustained presence in the lake.14. Make funds available and field resources to implement thepaleoclimate and geological sampling and analysis programs.
1. Identification of a lead nation or at a minimum, the formation of aninterim planning group charged with conducting a StrategicEnvironmental Assessment (SEA) of the entire program.2. Convene a meeting of experts to develop decontaminationstandards and methods to monitor cleanliness. Identify potentialfunding sources to implement these developments.3. Convene a meeting of experts to evaluate existing ice drillingtechnologies, assess the need for adaptation to subglacial lakeenvironments and access restrictions, and develop a detailed needsanalysis to provide the ice drilling platform, technology andinfrastructure.4. Provide funds to develop the subglacial lake ice drilling platformand equipment infrastructure including testing in analogue settings,refining operating protocols including the implementation of cleanstandards.5. Convene a meeting of experts to assess the status of currenttechnologies and compatibility with subglacial lake environmentsand access restrictions and provide plans for adapting thetechnologies as needed. Target indicators would be a relativelysimple set of parameters currently measured on oceanographicmooring and buoys - temperature, pressure, salinity (conductivity),particulates, fluorescence, nutrients, and dissolved oxygen.6. Makes funds available to develop observatory concepts andproduce the equipment that will be deployed in the lakes.7. Convene a meeting of experts to develop a detailed and specificplan for accelerated lake entry.8. Make funds available to begin the field operations for drilling andlake entry (The Group recognizes that the internationalmanagement structure and plan must be in place to proceed withon the ground operations - these needs will be addressed inseparate deliberations).9. Convene a meeting of experts to develop a detailed assessment andimplementation plan for lake entry and sample retrieval10. Convene a meeting of experts to assess technologies and develop adetailed implementation plan for lake entry and long geologicalcore retrieval.11. Convene a meeting of experts to develop a long term plan forsustained presence in the lakes.12. Provide the funds and logistical support to implement the lakeentry and initial sample retrieval plan.13. Convene a meeting of experts to develop a decommissioning planfor the drill sites.14. Make funds available and field resources to implement the plan forlake entry and long core retrieval, processing and analysis.
SALE - Planning is Advanced.
14. Make funds available and field resources to implement the plan for lake entry and long core retrieval, processing and analysis.
14. Make funds available and field resources to implement thepaleoclimate and geological sampling and analysis programs.
0 2 4 6 8 10
Physiography
Biology
Geochemistry
Paleoclimate
Geology
Glaciology
Years
Subglacial Environments Exploration Timeline
Key MilestonesExistingTechnologies
Lake EntryObservatoryDeployment
Sample RetrievalWater/ShallowSedimentRetrieval
Sample RetrievalDeep Coring
+
International ParticipationInternational Participation
UNUNified ified IInternational nternational TTeam for eam for EExploration xploration and and DDiscoveryiscovery
(SALE- UNITED) (SALE- UNITED)J. C. Priscu, USA J. C. Priscu, USA
(limnology)(limnology)
M.C. Kennicutt, USAM.C. Kennicutt, USA
(geochemistry)(geochemistry)
S. Bulat, Russia S. Bulat, Russia
(molecular biology)(molecular biology)
J.C. Ellis-Evans, UK J.C. Ellis-Evans, UK
(limnology)(limnology)
Tabacco, Italy Tabacco, Italy
(glaciology)(glaciology)
R. Bell, USA R. Bell, USA
(geology)(geology)
R. Powell, USA R. Powell, USA
(sedimentology)(sedimentology)
V. Lukin, Russia V. Lukin, Russia
(glaciology)(glaciology)
J.R. Petit, France J.R. Petit, France
(glaciology)(glaciology)
H. Miller, Germany H. Miller, Germany
(glaciology)(glaciology)
M. Siegert, UKM. Siegert, UK(glaciology(glaciology))
Terms of Reference for SALETerms of Reference for SALE
•Guide the SRP’s activities and encourage and facilitate communication
•Advise SCAR on SALE related issues.
•Promote data access, sharing and synthesis.
• Be an advocate and voice • Promote and champion
environmental stewardship• Interact and coordinate
with other SCAR SRP’s• Provide a focus for
outreach• Develop common
protocols and standards of data collection and management
SALE and SCAR’s MissionSALE and SCAR’s Mission
International coordination with COSPAR International coordination with COSPAR and other bodiesand other bodies
Interdisciplinary in scopeInterdisciplinary in scope
Environmental stewardshipEnvironmental stewardship
Shared logistics through COMNAP
Encourage National Committees to form
Outreach
SALE and SCAR’s MissionSALE and SCAR’s Mission
Data managementData management – web site, portal to member – web site, portal to member programs, agreed data management protocols and programs, agreed data management protocols and standardsstandards
Outreach and Education-Outreach and Education- web site, workshops, web site, workshops, regular press releases, contact list for the press, regular press releases, contact list for the press, publicationspublications
Capacity BuildingCapacity Building – shared resources, modular – shared resources, modular approach allowing participation by all, workshops, approach allowing participation by all, workshops, seminars, team approachseminars, team approach
SCAR leadershipSCAR leadership
SALE in the IPYSALE in the IPY
Requires a concerted Requires a concerted international effortinternational effort
Environmental Environmental stewardship through stewardship through careful planningcareful planning
Major objectives are Major objectives are attainable in a few years attainable in a few years timetime
There is great public There is great public interest in SALEinterest in SALE