Environmentally clean access to Antarctic subglacial aquatic environments
Abstract Subglacial Antarctic aquatic environments are important targets for scientific exploration due to the unique ecosystems they support and their sediments containing palaeoenvironmental records. Directly accessing these environments while preventing forward contamination and demonstrating tha...
Published in: | Antarctic Science |
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Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press (CUP)
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102020000231 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102020000231 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0954102020000231 2024-03-03T08:39:18+00:00 Environmentally clean access to Antarctic subglacial aquatic environments Michaud, Alexander B. Vick-Majors, Trista J. Achberger, Amanda M. Skidmore, Mark L. Christner, Brent C. Tranter, Martyn Priscu, John C. 2020 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102020000231 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102020000231 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Antarctic Science volume 32, issue 5, page 329-340 ISSN 0954-1020 1365-2079 Geology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Oceanography journal-article 2020 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s0954102020000231 2024-02-08T08:34:32Z Abstract Subglacial Antarctic aquatic environments are important targets for scientific exploration due to the unique ecosystems they support and their sediments containing palaeoenvironmental records. Directly accessing these environments while preventing forward contamination and demonstrating that it has not been introduced is logistically challenging. The Whillans Ice Stream Subglacial Access Research Drilling (WISSARD) project designed, tested and implemented a microbiologically and chemically clean method of hot-water drilling that was subsequently used to access subglacial aquatic environments. We report microbiological and biogeochemical data collected from the drilling system and underlying water columns during sub-ice explorations beneath the McMurdo and Ross ice shelves and Whillans Ice Stream. Our method reduced microbial concentrations in the drill water to values three orders of magnitude lower than those observed in Whillans Subglacial Lake. Furthermore, the water chemistry and composition of microorganisms in the drill water were distinct from those in the subglacial water cavities. The submicron filtration and ultraviolet irradiation of the water provided drilling conditions that satisfied environmental recommendations made for such activities by national and international committees. Our approach to minimizing forward chemical and microbiological contamination serves as a prototype for future efforts to access subglacial aquatic environments beneath glaciers and ice sheets. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Science Ice Shelves Whillans Ice Stream Cambridge University Press Antarctic Whillans ENVELOPE(-64.250,-64.250,-84.450,-84.450) Whillans Ice Stream ENVELOPE(-145.000,-145.000,-83.667,-83.667) Antarctic Science 32 5 329 340 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Cambridge University Press |
op_collection_id |
crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
topic |
Geology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Oceanography |
spellingShingle |
Geology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Oceanography Michaud, Alexander B. Vick-Majors, Trista J. Achberger, Amanda M. Skidmore, Mark L. Christner, Brent C. Tranter, Martyn Priscu, John C. Environmentally clean access to Antarctic subglacial aquatic environments |
topic_facet |
Geology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Oceanography |
description |
Abstract Subglacial Antarctic aquatic environments are important targets for scientific exploration due to the unique ecosystems they support and their sediments containing palaeoenvironmental records. Directly accessing these environments while preventing forward contamination and demonstrating that it has not been introduced is logistically challenging. The Whillans Ice Stream Subglacial Access Research Drilling (WISSARD) project designed, tested and implemented a microbiologically and chemically clean method of hot-water drilling that was subsequently used to access subglacial aquatic environments. We report microbiological and biogeochemical data collected from the drilling system and underlying water columns during sub-ice explorations beneath the McMurdo and Ross ice shelves and Whillans Ice Stream. Our method reduced microbial concentrations in the drill water to values three orders of magnitude lower than those observed in Whillans Subglacial Lake. Furthermore, the water chemistry and composition of microorganisms in the drill water were distinct from those in the subglacial water cavities. The submicron filtration and ultraviolet irradiation of the water provided drilling conditions that satisfied environmental recommendations made for such activities by national and international committees. Our approach to minimizing forward chemical and microbiological contamination serves as a prototype for future efforts to access subglacial aquatic environments beneath glaciers and ice sheets. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Michaud, Alexander B. Vick-Majors, Trista J. Achberger, Amanda M. Skidmore, Mark L. Christner, Brent C. Tranter, Martyn Priscu, John C. |
author_facet |
Michaud, Alexander B. Vick-Majors, Trista J. Achberger, Amanda M. Skidmore, Mark L. Christner, Brent C. Tranter, Martyn Priscu, John C. |
author_sort |
Michaud, Alexander B. |
title |
Environmentally clean access to Antarctic subglacial aquatic environments |
title_short |
Environmentally clean access to Antarctic subglacial aquatic environments |
title_full |
Environmentally clean access to Antarctic subglacial aquatic environments |
title_fullStr |
Environmentally clean access to Antarctic subglacial aquatic environments |
title_full_unstemmed |
Environmentally clean access to Antarctic subglacial aquatic environments |
title_sort |
environmentally clean access to antarctic subglacial aquatic environments |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102020000231 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102020000231 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-64.250,-64.250,-84.450,-84.450) ENVELOPE(-145.000,-145.000,-83.667,-83.667) |
geographic |
Antarctic Whillans Whillans Ice Stream |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Whillans Whillans Ice Stream |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Science Ice Shelves Whillans Ice Stream |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Science Ice Shelves Whillans Ice Stream |
op_source |
Antarctic Science volume 32, issue 5, page 329-340 ISSN 0954-1020 1365-2079 |
op_rights |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0954102020000231 |
container_title |
Antarctic Science |
container_volume |
32 |
container_issue |
5 |
container_start_page |
329 |
op_container_end_page |
340 |
_version_ |
1792494787230695424 |