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Summary
Pages 1-10

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From page 1...
... Recent evidence shows that many of the subglacial aquatic environments comprise vast watersheds connected by rivers and streams that flow beneath the ice sheet. The presence of subglacial lakes on the frozen continent has captured the interest of people, both scientists and nonscientists alike.
From page 2...
... June 27 Currently, no clear protocols or standards for minimizing contamination have been established for subglacial aquatic environments, although general guidelines are provided in the Antarctic Treaty Protocol. Before sampling should proceed, specific protocols that ensure stewardship of the environment and the scientific integrity of the areas under study need to be developed, including sampling methods that minimize microbial and chemical contamination.
From page 3...
... : • Define levels of "cleanliness" for equipment or devices entering subglacial aquatic environments; • Develop a sound scientific basis for contamination standards recognizing that different stages of exploration may be subject to differing levels of environmental concern; and • Recommend the next steps needed to define an overall exploration strategy. The committee was also charged to consider existing technology with respect to contamination and to highlight potential needs for technological development; to identify additional scientific studies that are needed to reduce contamination; to assess 1SCAR is an interdisciplinary committee of the International Council for Science (ICSU)
From page 4...
... This committee did not debate whether the current initiatives to explore subglacial lakes should continue, acknowledging that the scientific investigation of subglacial aquatic environments has previously been assessed internationally through the Antarctic Treaty Protocol and that exploration has been accepted as a legitimate activity. The committee recognized that the fundamental responsibility of all parties subject to the Antarctic Treaty is to maintain the best possible environmental stewardship for all activities, while appreciating, as does the Antarctic Treaty, that some impacts are acceptable in pursuit of scientific understanding and that these should be mitigated to the extent practicable.
From page 5...
... Rates of both growth and evolution are expected to be slow in these environments. Methods and protocols to minimize contamination have been developed for other unique environments, however the extreme conditions under which the exploration of subglacial aquatic environments is conducted and the logistical constraints of keeping 4 km of drilling equipment sterile pose significant challenges.
From page 6...
... CONNECTEDNESS OF SUBGLACIAL LAKES The presence of vast connected watersheds beneath the ice sheet heightens the need for responsible environmental stewardship during the exploration of subglacial aquatic environments. If any single lake or other subglacial environment were to be altered by adding chemical contaminants or live organisms, the environments connected to the altered lake might also be changed.
From page 7...
... on ASPA SAE ASPA Yes Submit ASPA requests new ASPA: Add new ASPA to Approved and to ATCM Plenary for listed used by national Established? consideration Designate specific authorities in project reviews STEWARDSHIP SAE as via Antarctic Treaty Conservation ASPA Recommendations 3, 4 No Stop Recommendations 5, 11, 12, 13 If impacts only minor or transitory: IEE required Research proposals Yes Approval by Permit issued: Yes for SAE: Is proposed Consider degree National Field work work within existing of impact Authority?
From page 8...
... Recommendation 2 Exploration protocols should assume that all subglacial aquatic environments contain or may support living organisms and are potentially linked components of a subglacial drainage basin. Recommendation 3 As soon as adequate survey data have been gathered to provide a sound basis for description, all subglacial aquatic environments intended for research should be designated Antarctic Specially Pro tected Areas to ensure that all scientific activities are managed within an agreed international plan and are fully documented.
From page 9...
... Recommendation 12 Remote sensing of the potential aquatic environments beneath the Antarctic ice sheet is underway but is far from complete. The following actions should proceed in order to make a decision about which subglacial aquatic environments should be studied in the future: • Continent-scale radio-echo sounding data should be assembled and subglacial aquatic envi ronments identified; • All regions where the basal melt-rate is likely high should be identified; • Detailed radio-echo sounding of known lakes should be done; • A hydrologic map of the subglacial drainage system for each catchment should be constructed; • Potential target environments should be identified based on the subglacial drainage system.
From page 10...
... scientific advisory body and the National Science Foundation requested the study to guide scientific programs originating in the United States, the committee hopes that its multinational makeup will be recognized and that the recommendations in this report will serve as a basis for broad international discussion about environmental stewardship for the exploration of subglacial aquatic environments.


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