Whillans Ice Stream Subglacial Access Research Drilling: Integrative Study of Marine Ice Sheet Stability and Subglacial Habitats in West Antarctica

提案标题：Whillans Ice Stream Subglacial Access Research Drilling：Integrative Study of Marine Ice Sheet Stability and Subglacial Aluminats in West TucticaInstitution：Montana State UniversityAbstract Date：06/25/2014The WISSARD（Whillans Ice Stream Subglacial Access and Research Drilling）Project has been awarded a two-part，multi-year grant（September 2009-August 2015）.该项目的目的是在1000米厚的西南极冰盖下钻探，以便调查冰川学，地质学，微生物，地球化学和海洋学系统，重点是冰下液态水的作用，包括冰下湖泊。2007年国家研究理事会（NRC）的一份报告指出：“是时候对冰下湖泊进行开始科学研究了”。 WISSARD项目是美国对冰下湖泊研究的贡献。 目前的合同是对早期项目的延续，将使工作的一个组成部分（接地线研究）得以完成。整个WISSARD项目将继续研究总体假设，即活跃的水排放连接各种冰下环境，并对冰盖流动、地球化学、代谢和系统发育多样性以及生物地球化学转化发挥主要控制作用。全球变暖、冰盖融化以及随后的海平面上升具有高度的社会相关性，WISSARD项目对我们理解碳循环和冰盖动态做出了重大贡献。作为该项目的一部分而建立的技术基础设施将在未来几年内使更广泛的科学界受益。该项目增加了学生对极地研究的参与，向极地科学介绍了新的调查人员，丰富了K-12教学和学习计划，并通过科普杂志，博物馆活动以及录像和纪录片等场所接触到更多的公众观众。总之，WISSARD通过向公众传达访问和研究可能是地球上最后未被探索的水生环境的兴奋来促进对南极洲的科学探索。

Proposal Title: Whillans Ice Stream Subglacial Access Research Drilling: Integrative Study of Marine Ice Sheet Stability and Subglacial Habitats in West AntarcticaInstitution: Montana State UniversityAbstract Date: 06/25/2014The WISSARD (Whillans Ice Stream Subglacial Access and Research Drilling) Project has been awarded a two-part, multi-year grant (September 2009-August 2015). The aim of the project is to drill beneath the 1000 meter thick West Antarctic ice sheet, allowing investigation of glaciological, geological, microbiological, geochemical, and oceanographic systems, with a focus on the role of subglacial liquid water including subglacial lakes. A 2007 National Research Council (NRC) report stated "It is time for scientific research on subglacial lakes to begin". The WISSARD project is the United States contribution to subglacial lake research. The current award is a renewal of the earlier project, and will allow completion of one component of the work (the grounding line studies).The overall WISSARD project continues to study the overarching hypothesis that active water drainage connects various subglacial environments and exerts major control on ice sheet flow, geochemistry, metabolic and phylogenetic diversity, and biogeochemical transformations. Global warming, melting of ice sheets, and subsequent sea-level rise are of high societal relevance, and the WISSARD project contributes significantly to our understanding of carbon cycling and ice sheet dynamics. The technological infrastructure built as part of the project will benefit the broader science community for years to come. The project has increased studentparticipation in polar research, introduced new investigators to the polar sciences,enriched K-12 teaching and learning programs, and reached a larger public audience through such venues as popular science magazines, museum based activities and videography and documentary films. In summary, WISSARD promotes scientific exploration of Antarctica by conveying to the public the excitement of accessing and studying what may be some of the last unexplored aquatic environments on Earth.