Lake . ???

[2R]

Antarctic lake may hold life clue

Lake . is under the ice in West Antarctica
An Edinburgh scientist's study of a 15 million-year-old lake buried under the ice of Antarctica could yield clues on climate change and the origins of life.
Edinburgh University researcher Neil Ross is part of a four-man team camped on an Antarctic ice sheet.

The group, which also includes members of the British Antarctic Survey, are to explore an ancient subglacial lake about the size of Loch Katrine.

Lake ., in West Antarctica, is buried under 3.2kms of ice.

About 150 lakes have been discovered beneath the Antarctica's vast ice sheet and so far little is known about them

Professor Martin Siegert
Edinburgh University

The scientists believe the 10km-long lake could give scientists vital insights into climate change, future rises in sea-levels and the origins of life on earth.

It is one of more than 150 lakes locked beneath Antarctica's vast ice sheets that have been discovered using radar and satellite technologies.

Professor Martin Siegert, principal investigator on the International Polar Year project that is investigating the lake and head of Edinburgh University's School of GeoSciences, said the lake could show signs of ancient life.

He said: "We are particularly interested in Lake . because it is likely to have been isolated from the surface for hundreds of thousands of years.

"Radar measurements made previously from aircraft surveys suggest that the lake is connected to others that could drain ice from the West Antarctic Ice sheet to the ocean and contribute to sea level rise.

"About 150 lakes have been discovered beneath the Antarctica's vast ice sheet and so far little is known about them."

He said the lakes were important for a number of reasons.

Extraterrestrial environment

He said: "For example, because water acts as a lubricant to the ice above, they may influence how the ice sheet flows.

"Their potential for unusual life forms could shed new light on evolution of life in harsh conditions; lake-floor sediments could yield vital clues to past climate."

He added the lakes could also help to give insight into the extraterrestrial environment of Europa - one of Jupiter's moons.

Dr Andy Smith, of the British Antarctic Survey, who is leading the expedition, said: "This is the first phase of what we think is an incredibly exciting project.

"We know the lake is 3.2km beneath the ice; long and thin and around 18 kilometres squared.

"But as we don't know how deep it is that will be the focus of our experiments this time.

"If the survey work goes well, the next phase will be to build a probe, drill down into the lake and explore and sample the lake water."

[Rowdy]

Hey .!! They named a lake after you.

I'm just waitn to hear the story about why

[marktheone]

Hey .!! They named a lake after you.

I'm just waitn to hear the story about why

It's cause he invented antartica.

[Chuck Ellsworth]

. was a British explorer who lived long before my time....All my exploring was in the Arctic...mostly in the riding academy.

[MichaelP]

All my exploring was in the Arctic...mostly in the riding academy.

Do you know how many conotations an Englishman could make of you going to a riding academy .?

I know that the Inuit were supposed to lend their wives to visitors to keep them warm in the igloo... but did you need to attend a riding academy?

Many people here don't know what a 'bicycle' is either!

[2R]

So none knows about the "Village Bike" either
the one that everyone has rode at least once or twice

[Chuck Ellsworth]

The riding academy was the nursing station in Inuvik.

[MichaelP]

Those Carry On films come to mind....

Oh Doctor . you are naughty....

[BoostedNihilist]

.

[Driving Rain]

The riding academy was the nursing station in Inuvik.

Oh I remember it so well. Was walking by it late one night just in time to witness an Austin Airways Captain with his pants down around his ankles, lying on his belly, grasping the lower porch railing with all his drunkin might, being pulled back inside to do the dirty with Ms. Alexander the 350 pound. ( that's an estimate could have been more) nurse from Scotland. She knew the way to a pilots heart and it was whiskey lots of cheap whisky. First time I heard the words whiskey and dick used together. Love it's such convoluted term when your north of 60.

[1000 HP]

Oh my god! . might be my father!

[sameasyou]

We used to go to the nursing stations for different reasons. We needed their help but usually in pill form. I believe pissin razor blades was the term we used

[Chuck Ellsworth]

We used to go to the nursing stations for different reasons. We needed their help but usually in pill form. I believe pissin razor blades was the term we used

Us smarter ones did the nurses not the local talent...less clap.

[sameasyou]

Believe me, I learned my lesson after that Besides, doing the nurses was highly encouraged due to the fact that we could get more medevacs.Geez, no pressure or anything