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

该项目有两个基本的科学目标：(1)确定南极冰下湖泊中是否存在微生物生命，以及以何种形式存在；(2)确定南极西部冰盖的历史。为了实现这些目标，我们将对南极洲西部埃尔斯沃思冰川下湖的水和沉积物进行直接测量和取样。十多年来，科学家们一直认为冰下湖泊是微生物生命的极端栖息地。此外，沉积古环境记录被认为存在于冰下湖泊的底部，这将为了解南极洲的冰川历史提供重要的见解。在已知的150个冰下湖泊中，埃尔斯沃思湖是一个理想的探索候选者。通过NERC-AFI奖，冰川学家已经证明，这个湖在3公里的冰下，长10公里，宽2-3公里，深160米，证实了它是一个理想的深水湖泊。根据几项深外地侦察研究，在这个地点部署重型设备是可能的。该项目将建造、测试和部署所有必要的设备，以清洁和对环境负责的方式完成实验。样品将在现场和罗瑟拉站的实验室进行分析和分离，然后分发到英国各地的实验室。该项目已处于规划阶段4年，将成为南极探险的基准，将在极端环境下的生命和南极西部冰盖历史方面取得深刻的科学发现，并将引起公众和媒体的真正兴趣。

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.