Paleolimnology in the High Arctic – implications for the exploration of Mars

• Published in: International Journal of Astrobiology
• Main Authors: Lim, Darlene S.S., Cockell, Charles S.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2002
• Subjects: Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous); Space and Planetary Science; Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous); Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Arctic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1473550403001265; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S1473550403001265

Paleolimnology provides information on the past chemical, physical and biological nature of water bodies. In polar regions, where global climatic changes can be exacerbated compared with lower latitudes, the science has become important for reconstructing past changes and in so doing, predicting possible effects of future changes. Owing to the association of life with water bodies, particularly stable water bodies sustained over many millennia, paleolake regions on the surface of Mars are of exobiological importance. In this mini-review, we use experience gathered in the High Arctic to describe the importance of paleolimnology in the Earth's polar regions as it pertains to the future application of this science to robotic and human exploration missions to the planet Mars.