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，以及微生物生命以何种形式存在；(2)确定南极西部冰盖的历史。为了实现这些目标，我们将对南极西部的冰下埃尔斯沃斯湖的水和沉积物进行直接测量和采样。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但可行的栖息地。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关键的见解。在已知的150个冰下湖泊中，埃尔斯沃斯湖是理想的勘探对象。通过NERC-AFI奖，冰川学家展示了这个冰下3公里的湖泊长10公里，宽2-3公里，深160米，确认它是一个理想的深水湖泊，适合进行勘探。根据几项深场侦察研究，已证明在该地点部署重型装备是可能的。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。样本将在现场和Rothera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。该项目已筹划了四年，将成为南极考察的标杆活动，将对极端环境中的生命和西南极冰盖历史做出深刻的科学发现，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.