Antarctica may not be the frozen wasteland many people imagine. Helicopters carrying a novel airborn electromagnetic mapping sensor system, known as SkyTEM, have discovered hidden interconnected lakes beneath its dry valleys. This is the first time SkyTEM, developed at the University of Aarhus in Denmark, has been deployed in Antarctica.
The scientists behind the project believe the valleys could sustain life and help us understand more about ancient climate change.
Jill Mikucki, a, microbiology assistant professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, was part of the team that detected extensive salty groundwater networks.
The research was funded by the National Science Foundation and provides compelling evidence that the underground lakes and brine-saturated sediments may support subsurface microbial ecosystems. The findings helped the team understand glacial dynamics and also revealed how Antarctica has responded to climate change over time.
More http://bit.ly/1duVOn3
'via Blog this'
No comments:
Post a Comment