Exploration of Antarctic Subglacial Aquatic Environments Environmental and Scientific Stewardship (2007) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
6 Findings and Recommendations
6 Findings and Recommendations
Pages 114-128
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From page 114... ...
Most of our current knowledge about the lakes and other subglacial aquatic environments is derived from interpretations of remote sensing data and chemical and biological analyses of samples of Lake Vostok water that froze to the bottom of the overlying Antarctic ice sheet (accretion ice)
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From page 115... ...
One of the key scientific questions posed in the SCAR SALE program is concerned with the origins, evolution, and maintenance of life in subglacial aquatic environments. The SCAR SALE group speculated that life in subglacial lake environments could be unique; thus, any attempt to sample the water, sediment, or organisms directly should ensure that the subglacial aquatic environment is not contaminated, especially by carbon substrates that might allow the aquatic ecosystem to change fundamentally.
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From page 116... ...
The purpose of this study is to provide independent guidance on how to minimize contamination of subglacial lake environments during exploration and how to provide responsible stewardship of these unique and possibly connected environments. NEXT STEPS IN SUBGLACIAL EXPLORATION Although no lake has been sampled directly, Lake Vostok has been studied using remote sensing, chemical analyses of ice accreted to the bottom of the Antarctic ice sheet, and geochemical modeling.
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From page 117... ...
There is great value in setting the exploration of subglacial aquatic environments in motion now. These unique environments may hold critical information needed to answer many questions about microbiological life, evolution, and adaptations; Antarctic and global climate over the past 65 million years; ice sheet dynamics; and the evolution of subglacial aquatic environments and their associated hydrological and biogeochemical processes.
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From page 118... ...
Lakes or subglacial regions designated for "conservation" would be set aside to conserve untouched examples of the diversity of subglacial aquatic environments for future generations In addition, the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) oversees the Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation (CEE)
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From page 119... ...
This plan should seek to deelop scientific understanding and ensure that the enironmental management of subglacial aquatic enironments is held to the highest standards. TOWARD ESTABLISHING LEVELS OF CLEANLINESS The problem of how to penetrate kilometers of the ice sheet and sample subglacial aquatic environments in the cleanest and least intrusive manner possible remains a considerable technological challenge.
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From page 120... ...
In addition to assessing potential impacts of research activities prior to their start, the committee recognizes the importance of initially sampling sites furthest downstream within a subglacial drainage system to reduce the impact of any contaminants introduced into the drainage system and the importance of maintaining records of materials introduced into the environment to inform future investigations. Cleanliness requirements for the exploration of subglacial aquatic environments include (1)
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From page 121... ...
Thus, it will be important to minimize the level of microbial contaminants on drilling, sampling, and monitoring equipment to ensure that these activities have a minor and/or transitory impact on the environment. Although there is no definition of minor or transitory in the Antarctic Treaty, in practice, Antarctic Treaty parties have considered the chemical impacts on the Antarctic environment; these considerations may provide a context in which to evaluate potential microbial impacts.
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From page 122... ...
Unfortunately, the basic hydrology of Lake Concordia and South Pole Lake is completely unknown, so the potential environmental impact of sampling these lakes on other subglacial aquatic environments in their respective drainage basins is also unknown. However, the basic hydrology of Lake Vostok and Lake Ellsworth is understood, and they appear to be good candidates for exploration.
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From page 123... ...
Maintaining detailed information about activities associated with these environments is a requirement of the Antarctic Treaty protocol. A record of any material components used in the exploration of subglacial lakes that may influence future research and information regarding drilling components, such as the microbial content of drilling fluids will be important to the development of the exploration protocols and future investigations.
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From page 124... ...
A remote observatory designed for subglacial aquatic environments that could be inserted through a small borehole could provide long-term monitoring of the water or
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From page 125... ...
The data collected from these endeaors should be used to better assess the requirements of future meth odologies and technologies. GUIDELINES FOR STEWARDSHIP, MANAGEMENT, AND PROJECT REVIEW This report provides an initial framework for the environmental stewardship for exploration of subglacial aquatic environments.
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From page 126... ...
proceeds Research ASPA? If impacts greater than minor or transitory, OR if SAE is to No be penetrated: CEE required Work completed, No submit report to via National Authority Revise/Resubmit National Authority Revise & resubmit proposal OR International comment and CEP propose new Research ASPA PROJECT REVIEW & APPROVAL through CEP FIGURE 6.1 Sequence and framework to address stewardship, management, and project review for subglacial aquatic environments.
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From page 127... ...
Subglacial Antarctic Lake Program (SALE) : Created by SCAR as a major international research program that provides the framework within which the science objectives are agreed upon by scientists interested in subglacial lakes; SALE also coordinates the pooling of data and specimens, and organizes workshops
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From page 128... ...
continuing stewardship of these environments through the processes of the Antarctic Treaty, and the formal request that specific subglacial aquatic environments be designated as Antarctic Specially Protected Areas, either for long-term conservation or for agreed scientific research; and (3) the scientific project review and approval process involving national authorities and international oversight through the CEP.
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