sign in sign up
<<
Home , Ice drilling, Kohnen Station, Lake Vostok, Lake Whillans, Subglacial lake

i1.nd14 14 gi113.indd

14 GEOGRAPHY is goingoninsemi-automatic mode, and sheet ontheway to thebed. Allprocess signals the sondeisableto measure geochemical environment, andatthe sametime surface isreliablywhile subglaciallake isolated from would measure andsamplesubglacialwater RECoverable Autonomous Sonde ‘RECAS’ with subsequentdifficulties. The proposed in theupwelling ofwater into thehole with thehydrostatic unbalanceresulted isconnected subglaciallakes and plannedprojectsfor accessingof The maintroublesome oftheimplemented hot- technology to drilling accesslakes. and sedimentsamples.used Bothactivities subglacial Whillans andretrieve water through 800mofAntarcticiceto reach a research team hassuccessfullydrilled butfailed. US Ellsworth intoto Lake drill and engineers engageinthefirstattempt scientists Antarctic season.Ateam ofBritish Whillans, respectively, inthe2012/2013 and Ellsworth access downto thelakes USA sciencecommunitiesanticipate direct exploration programs proposed byUKand water wascontaminated. Two recent high-toxic fluid, drilling andthesubglacial system butthree ofthemwere filledwith boreholes accessedsubglacialaquatic Antarctic IceSheets. Upto date onlyfour streams existsthousandsofmeters beneath rivers, oflakes, and that avastnetwork sheet. Nowadays itisgenerallyrecognized andtheformation oftheAntarcticice Earth, microbial evolution, thepastclimate of the may provide uniqueinformation about becausethey to thescience environment have becomeofgreat interest *Corresponding author Province, China,130021; Tel/Fax +8643188502797 Polar Research Center, No. JilinUniversity; 938Ximinzhustr., ChangchunCity, Jilin Pavel G. Talalay*, Alexey N.Markov, A.Sysoev Mikhail ABSTRACT. SUBGLACIAL EXPLORATION NEW FRONTIERS OF ANTARCTIC in situthroughout thedepthof

Antarctic subglacialaquatic ; e-mail: [email protected]; e-mail: the endof19 underAntarcticicesheetsat Peter firstproposed theideaof Kropotkin of theAntarcticicesheet.Russianscientist surprisingly, there isliquidwater atthebase yet thick; ice averaging atleast1,6km iscoveredof bythesheetof elevation ofallthecontinents. About98% continent, andhasthehighestaverage andwindiest Antarctica isthecoldest,driest, technology, autonomous sonde ment, environmental-friendly access are given.performance as well asproposed power-supply and months. The generalconceptofthesonde exploration atthedepthof3500mis8–9 the estimated durationofsubglaciallake geothermal heatingbalancestheheatloss geothermal the water belowthe iceremains liquidsince glaciologist I.A.Zotikov, whoconcludedthat developed bysoviet wasfurther theory 1961]. Sheet [Kapitsa, The subglacialmelting Ice ofEastAntarctic ice incentralparts existence ofliquidwater lensesbelow the A.P. usedZubov’s approach Kapitsa to suggest an icemeltingpoint[Zubov, 1961, 1959].In bottom temperature oficesheet,equalto corresponding to the icethickness, critical Zubov theoretically proved thatthere isa 1876].80years later N.N. melt [Kropotkin, ice sheetto thepointwhere theicewould ofthe temperature atthelowest portions meters oficecouldincrease the vertical by thecumulative massofthousands that thetremendous pressure exerted INTRODUCTION KEY WORDS: subglacialaquaticenviron- th century. Hetheorized 20.0311:00:15 11:00:15 22.03.2013 i1.nd15 15 gi113.indd a vast network oflakes,rivers, andstreamsa vastnetwork Nowadays itisgenerallyrecognized that aquatic environment research. the beginning Antarcticsubglacial ofmodern about onemillionyears. marked This article is that themeanageofwater inthelake wasconcluded etal., 1996].It Station [Kapitsa East Antarcticaintheregion ofRussian existed beneath∼ a hugelake that scientistsreported by RussianandBritish inNature written 1996anarticle decades. In forscientific community more thantwo had gonelargely unnoticedbythebroader Robin, 1973;Robinetal., 1977],thesefeatu res icesheetin1970s[e.g.,Antarctic Oswaldand ments have revealed water layer beneaththe Even thoughradarandseismicmeasure- [Zotikov, 1963]. at thebottom oficesheetis1–4mm/year rate ofmelting estimations thepermanent (Fig.at theicesurface 1).According to his of bed melting accounting Earth geothermal flux 2,5× 10–6 kal×sm–2×sec–1[Zotikov, 1963] kal×sm–2×sec–1[Zotikov, 10–6 2,5× flux geothermal Earth accounting melting bed of Fig. 1. Location of Antarctic subglacial lakes [Siegert et al., 2005] and bright spot area 4 km of ice in oficein 4 km sampling oftheseaquaticsystems [Talalay, stageofexplorationrequiresThe next direct oftime. period area ofscienceinashort environments hasopenedanentirely new sheet. ofsubglacial aquatic The andtheformation oftheAntarcticice Earth, microbial evolution, thepastclimate of the ment may provide uniqueinformation about lions ofyears, subglacialaquaticenviron- Sealed from theEarth’s atmosphere for mil- Bell etal., 2006)beingthelargest. Popov 90°E(1800km etal., 2011)andLake alone exceeds 10000km the volume ofAntarcticsubglaciallakes 10%oftheicesheet’sis nearly base, and area ofthesubglaciallakes the total surface 2011].Estimates indicate that and Siegert, improve spatialcoverage [Wright surveys have beenidentified;thiswillincrease as Ice Sheets. As of2010,387subglaciallakes exists thousandsofmeters beneathAntarctic Siegert, 1999], with Lake 1999],withLake VostokSiegert, (6100km 3 [Dowdeswell and 20.0311:00:15 11:00:15 22.03.2013 3 3 ; ;

15 GEOGRAPHY i1.nd16 16 gi113.indd

16 GEOGRAPHY to thebottom oftheicesheet,and produce enoughenergy to melticedown equipment. The nuclearpower planthadto would containappropriate instrumentsand sealedcontainer, ofhermetically part which power plantthatwould belowered, asa wasbasedonasmallnuclear The project and I.A.Zotikov in1963[Zotikov, 2006]. environment wasproposed byA.P. Kapitsa Ice Sheetto studytheaqueoussubglacial forThe firstproject penetrationtheAntarctic subglacial environment ofchiefimportance. systems. of sustainability makes This criterion not contaminate thesesubglacialaquatic is obviousthat pressures andisolationfrom atmosphere. It levels, lownutrient highwater darkness, contains life, whichmustadaptto total 2006]. The subglacialwater mostlikely BACKGROUND Fig. 2. Deep sites in Antarctica (blue points mark boreholes that already reached reached already that boreholes mark points (blue Antarctica in sites drilling ice Deep 2. Fig. in situinvestigations should or planned to reach subglacial aquatic systems) aquatic subglacial reach to planned or system (Fig. 2). three boreholes accessedsubglacialaquatic sites ofAntarctica,only succeeded atvarious 2012b]. Even mostofthemhave been atthesubglacialenvironmentacting [Talalay, for examiningprocessesget opportunities order to reach theicesheetbedandto projects were completed inAntarctica thefollowing yearsIn dozen ofdeepdrilling plants inAntarctica. wastesthe disposalofradioactive ornuclear realized becauseAntarctic Treaty prohibits container. Fortunately, thisproject wasnever enough to beinstalledinthe0,9mdiameter nuclear energy reactor of100kW, small Sciences whichwasready to provide asmall Energy oftheUSSRAcademy Institute of bytheAtomic wassupported This project ismaintainedbywireless means. surface probe. Communication withtheicesheet resulting water would refreeze above the 20.0311:00:15 11:00:15 22.03.2013 ggi113.indd 17 i 1 1 3 . i n d d

1 coring atByrd Station(80°01 coring wasusedforCRREL electromechanicaldrill . this time. subglacial water sampleswere obtainedat be atpressure meltingpointof–1,5°C.No the temperature attheicesheetbedto was estimated as0,0325°C/mthatgives The near-bottom temperature gradient of anicesheetwasproved experimentally. the existence ofawater layer atthebottom ofAntarcticexploration time inthehistory of thepossiblelossdrill. For thefirst subglacial samplewere terminated because attempts to obtaina the drill, andfurther days, theslushbecamedifficultto penetrate the bottom 460mofthehole. Within afew out ofthewater created slushin aheavy ofthehole. Freezingfluid inthelower part mixed withtheglycol usedasdrilling sample, thewater whichwelded thehole attempting to obtainasubglacialbedrock thetimespent During than 0,3mthick. to bealayer ofwater estimated to beless 1970]. and Garfield, This waslater concluded been encountered bythecuttingbit[Ueda indicated had anabruptchangeinmaterial a corresponding increase incabletension 2164,4 masuddendecrease inpower and 1530 ma.s.l.), West Atadepthof Antarctica. 7 Fig. 3. The first frozen samples of Antarctic subglacial water recovered at , Station, Kohnen at recovered water subglacial Antarctic of samples frozen first The 3. Fig. In 1967and1968theUSA In January 2007 [http://www.awi.de] ′ S, 119°32 ′ W, W, It was decided not to re-drill therefrozen was decidednotto re-drill It with hydrochlorofluorocarbon HCFC-141b). ofpetroleum(mixture solvent ExxsolD40 were fluid contaminated bythedrill interface the top ofthecolumnatwater-drill-fluid- fromthe base. samplestaken Unfortunately fluid,drilling thewater rose to 173mabove bailer (Fig. 3). zen water wasrecovered by 2007]. The 1 l/min[Wilhelms, pressured holewiththeflowrate ofmore than cominginto theunder-2774 mwater started at theapproach to thebedatdepthof insummerseason2006–2007 fact, bottom. In was concludedthatthere isno estimated byradarsurvey. Finallythickness it point in2790mdepthat1,915°C,beyond ice to thepressurewas extrapolated melting the temperature gradient as0,0281°C/mthat near-bottom temperature logdetermined [F. Wilhelms, personalcommunication].The for depthwasabout2780±5m activities. The estimate from radarsoundings Land asalogistic basefor deepicedrilling Dronning (Germany) innorthwestern established byAlfred-Wegener-Institute station (75°00 (EPICA)theKohnen inAntarctica Coring oftheEuropeanframework Project for Ice Kohnen Station Upon reducing thelevel ofthe ′ S, 00°04 . In 2001withinthe. In ′ E, 2892ma.s.l.) was special down-hole special down-hole sample ofref ro- melting at the melting atthe 222.03.2013 11:00:16 2 . 0 3 . 2 0 1 3

1

1 17 GEOGRAPHY : 0 0 : 1 6 i1.nd18 18 gi113.indd

18 GEOGRAPHY future exploration. intowill needto considerationfor betaken Vostok that wasmuchhigherthanexpected by386m.So,the lake thepressure inLake 2013] indicatingthatthewater rose from and Antarctic Research Institute, 10January of 3383m[Press ofArctic RelationsService top offrozen subglacialwater atthedepth 2013found the deployment inJanuary drill 30–40 mfrom thewater table, butthefirst oftheborehole,near-bottom upto part predicted thatthewater wouldinthe rise with refrozen water ice(Fig. 4).Researchers wasfilledandcoated thewholedrill surface water, lake rising butuponreaching the 2012a]. wasrescuedThe drill from rapidly etal., 2012; of 3769,3m[Vasiliev Talalay, withLake contact Vostok water atadepth February 2012,Russianresearchers made 1996]. Twenty-two years later, inyearly was officiallyrecognized etal., [Kapitsa underthestationthe large subglaciallake etal., 2011],sixyears before1990 [Vasiliev (78°28′ at Hole 5Gwasstarted Vostok Station. -based fluid. drill holethatisstabilizeddeep icecoring by get uncontaminated samplesoutofany towater column becauseofimpossibility S, 106°48′ Fig. 4. The refrozen water recovered from the last run, run, last the from recovered water Vostok Lake refrozen The 4. Fig. E, 3488ma.s.l.) inFebruary Deep drilling ofadeep drilling Deep February 5, 2012 [Credit: N.I. Vasiliev] entered theborehole, andmixed itcontacted HCFC-141b).When thesubglacialwater first withhydrochlorofluorocarbonkerosene using highly-toxic of fluid(mixture drilling Vostok, 2002],andLake Vostok wasaccessed SamplingoftheSubglacialLake [Water Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation Lake Vostok accessdidnotcomplywiththe Unfortunately, thetechnology usedfor the deviate rapidlyfrom theprevious direction. holewill several degrees, andthere-drilled by main holeisinclinedfrom thevertical 10–15 mofthefrozen water becausethe upper that itwillonlybepossibleto re-drill ofthefrozen islikely ice. It lake by re-drilling planned for the2012–2013 summerseason stageofLake The next Vostok samplingis fromlikely thesurface. un fluid, withthefourth butalsomost known matched as contaminantsfrom thedrilling Three ofthefour was identifiedphylotypes towould findintheultracleanroom. expect microbes/ml –aboutthesamemagnitude that presented intheicesamplewere fewer than10 that doesnotmeantherest ofitis. The microbes Lake Vostok appearsto be “lifeless” sofarbut layer uppermost of concluded thatthevery water waspreliminary [Bulatetlake al., 2012].It bit showsnonative microbes cameupwiththe A firstanalysisoftheicethatfroze onto thedrill 20.0311:00:17 11:00:17 22.03.2013 i1.nd19 19 gi113.indd chose Lake Ellsworth (78°58 Ellsworth chose Lake Lake UK consortium Ellsworth. performance. have similarconcepts, limitsand Antarctic seasons. Bothactivities inthecoming down to thelakes respectively, anticipate directaccess UK andUSAsciencecommunities, Lake Whillan sprograms proposed by and few years.next Ellsworth Lake subglacial environments over the advance understandingofAntarctic explorationprogramstwo to likely now athandwiththeinitiationof subglacial aquaticenvironments is Significant progress inthestudyof [Bentleyetal., 2009]. by corrosion andcontaminate the the probe bedestroyed would likely time certain of themission,andafter not to beretrieved completing after of Institute Technology, USA)planned Jet Propulsion (California Laboratory designed by autonomous Forfinancially supported. example, is why theywere notcompleted and/or as absolutely “clean” methods, andthat ofthemcannotbequalified others]. Most 2002; Fleckenstein andEustes, 2007;and samples[e.g. andPrice, Blake measurements andretrieve water and in situphysical, chemicalandbiological of undue contamination,obtainavariety sedimentswithout andunderlying lakes methods to subglacial accessAntarctic over suggested theworld employingnew lastdecaderesearchersDuring from all identification ofnewforms oflife withinit. will beofnousefor theinvestigation and thatit fluid,by thedrilling anditislikely contaminated water was almostcertainly with thetoxic fluid. drilling The subglacial in an Antarctic subglacial lakes. Lake in anAntarcticsubglaciallakes. Lake evolution andmaintenance of life to the presence, determine origin, asthebestcandidate 90°31′04′′W) LAST EVENTS AND NEAR FUTURE ′ 34′′S, Exploration of Subglacial Lake Ellsworth Antarctica, 2012] Antarctica, Ellsworth Lake Subglacial of Exploration F–filters)[Proposed P–pumps, (H–heaters, system drill water hot Ellsworth Lake the of diagram 5.Schematic Fig. with thespeed0,5–1,0m/sto form astraight the ice. The hoseandnozzle are lowered hose to anozzle thatjetshotwater to melt pumped, athighpressure, through thedrill filtered thenheated viaaheatexchanger and concept israthersimple(Fig. 5):water is Ellsworth. clean accessto Lake The drilling most effective meansofobtainingrapid, Antarctic Survey, hasbeenidentifiedasthe system,Hot water designed drilling byBritish ice temperature is–32°C. depthis143m.Minimal 3155 mandthelake sheet intheregion ofproposed site is drilling ofice thethickness Due to radar survey Antarctica,2012]. Ellsworth Subglacial Lake 1925 melevation[Proposed Explorationof liesatapproximatelyabove thelake 1900– West AntarcticIceSheet,andtheicesurface is located inthecenter ofthe Ellsworth 20.0311:00:18 11:00:18 22.03.2013

19 GEOGRAPHY i1.nd20 20 gi113.indd

20 GEOGRAPHY the lake whilethefirstboreholethe lake would be continue through anddown to thecavity this cavity. This mainborehole would then should have immediately with connected to 300mdepthand first) wasthendrilled main borehole (located 2maway from the 12 hoursto create thecavity. The second, atthatdepthfor headleft and thenthedrill first borehole to adepth of300m wasdrilled into Lake Ellsworth butfailed Ellsworth Ice Sheetinto Lake throughofAntarctic to drill more than3km and engineers engageinthefirstattempt scientists 2012ateam December ofBritish In and retrieved. probe andasedimentcorer willbedeployed hole reduces to thissize, boththewater adaymm after from firstaccess. Before the 2006] resulting inuseablediameter of∼200 to etal., beapproximately 6mm/h[Siegert of 360mmdiameter borehole isestimated from thelake. entering The refreezing time level.lake This drawdown willprevent water down afew meters belowthehydrological thewaterlake, level intheholewillbedrawn aroundwill take 3days. Before reaching the Creating accessholeinto thelake thelake nozzle. hoseto adrill length ofdrill 90°C, andpumpeddownasingle3,4km water isthenheated to 85°Cand between 20, 5,1and0,2,before beingUVtreated. This elements withabsolute micron ratingsof bonded, pleated, andmembranefilter five stagedfiltrationsystem utilizingspun and viruses. The water willpassthrough a includingbacteria suspended solidparticles, will beusedto treat water to drill remove the hotwater drill. AfiltrationandUVsystem above freezing. The water isthenreused by which are maintainedatseveral degrees storage tanks, a numberoflarge surface returns water to m belowtheicesurface), but belowthelake’s hydrological level (270 borehole pumpinstallednearthesurface, hole asthereturn conduit.Asubmersible The water from thenozzle usesthemelted process.360 mmattheendofdrilling hole thatwillhave auniform diameter of 1 http://www.ellsworth.org.uk/ 1 . The number ofviablecells. has beenshownto significantly reduce the maintained atatemperature >90°C, which will be0,2mm. water will alsobe The drilling into theholehot water. The finalfilter size numbers to ∼100cell/mlwithinpumped treatment system allowsreducing microbial subglacial environment. The filtrationandUV and microbial contaminationto thepristine access withminimalchemical toWISSARD willuseahotwater clean drill Ellsworth, thesamemanner asLake In drainageevents.less than8meven lake after is suggest thatthedepthofwater inthelakes subglacial Lake Whillans isonly700mand above showed thaticethickness surveys inAntarctica. lakes radar The ice-penetrating there are more than120suchsubglacial have demonstratedsatellite that altimetry [Fricker etal., 2011].Subsequentstudieswith insubglacial basinsvolume fluctuations ischangeddueto water which ice-surface Whillans belongsto subglaciallakes, active the USNationalScienceFoundation. Lake geobiology in West fundedby Antarctica, andsubglacial study oficesheetstability project isa6-year (2009–2015) integrative Subglacial Access Research (WISSARD) Drilling Lake Whillans. Antarctic season2012/2013. hasbeencalledofffor into thelake drill thatthemissionto confirmed experiment, Ellsworth Investigator oftheSubglacialLake Principal Siegert, 2012Martin 25 December render theremaining operationunviable. On depleted thefuelstocks to suchalevel asto to linksignificantly establish thecavity drill. to attemptThe additionaltimetaken couldnotmatch theflowrateefforts ofthe by digging andmeltingmore snowbuttheir team attempted to replenish thiswater loss layers oficeandwaslost. porous surface The 75,000 litres ofhotwater seepedinto the 20 hours. thisprocess, During around for over at 300mdepth,despite trying boreholes thetwo establish alinkbetween are yet to theteam bedetermined couldnot using asubmersiblepump. For reasons that used to recirculate water backto thesurface The Whillans IceStream 20.0311:00:18 11:00:18 22.03.2013 ggi113.indd 21 i 1 1 3 . i n d d

2 Lake Whillans Lake by track-traverse across theRossIceShelfto away all equipmentwasmoved 1010km location Windless BightnearMcMurdo. Then outata systemwater wascarried drilling 2012thefirsttesting December ofthehot In ofeachdeployment. and objective combinations, dependingonthemission sediment samplerswillbeusedinvarious modular oceanographic instruments, robotically operatedsuch assub-ice vehicle, specialized scientificinstrumentation variety open for update to 800mmdiameter) thatwillremain of atleast200mmdiameter (withfuture willproduce aborehole Nebraska-Lincoln, The hotwater drill, designed of inUniversity 2 and isnotregulated. isaccessingnot predictable while thelake reaming; (iv)thevalueofdifferential pressure open more than1–2days withoutintensive per meter); (iii)accessholecannotbekept consumption (2500kW, highpoweraccess holeneedsextremely expensive ( andheavy very of proposed technologies: (i)equipmentis hand there are numerous disadvantages fast.From isaccessedvery the lake theother possible from the present pointofview, and glacial water andsedimentsasclean equipment canprovide samplesofsub- Whillans explorationmethodologies are that and Ellsworth The mainadvantagesoflakes and alarger percussion corer. cores eachtimeitwasdeployed, apiston corer, a multi-corer, three whichcollected ~0,4m sediment samplingtools were usedincluding Temperature andwater Depth. Three different whichmeasures Conductivity, filters, andaCTD on sampler thatconcentrates water particulates designated depths, water aninsituMcLane which allowsyou water to samplesat collect water sampler,deployed includedaNiskin fromcollected thelake. Water samplingtools Bothwaterlake. andsedimentsampleswere 800 meters ofAntarcticiceto reach asubglacial research through team hassuccessfullydrilled 1 http://www.wissard.org/ ∼ 8 days by periodical reaming.8 days byperiodical A 2 . On January 27,2013US . OnJanuary ∼ < 25 lofgasoline 120 t); (ii) drilling 120 t);(ii)drilling density 0,1 density W/cm wired-in heatingelementwithaverage power ofthesondeisheated byspecial surface cylindrical against re-freezing, theexterior of0,75. accounting theefficiency To protect be 1,7m/hinpure iceattemperature –30°C speedofpenetrationwould the expected The power oftheeachhot-point is has asmallcentralholefor cableslidinginit. sonde bodyis140mm. The upperhot-point diameter is150mm,anddiameter ofthe sides ofthesonde(Fig. 6). The hot-point elements located onthebottom andtop hot-pointsby two with parabolicheating General concept. is ableto move upwards. not to berecovered from theice, theRECAS probe, thermal thatwas designedPhilbert the the mainheater down.Unlike broke second oneto thedepthof1005mbefore to thedepthof218m,and drilled Station Jarl-Joset, . The firstprobe probe thermal werePhilbert launchedat melt-water setsofthe 1968two above it.In probe andbecamefixed intherefreezing inside theprobe, paidoutofthe advancing and signals from onthecoil itwastwisted powerfor to it thetransmissionofelectric ofthisprobe wasthatthewirecharacteristic 1976]. an icesheet[Philbert, The outstanding was usedto measure temperature insideof probe thermal that is basedonthePhilberth spectrometer. Generally, ideaofRECASdesign the way to thebedusingembeddedlaser situ is ableto measure geochemicalsignals environment. Atthesametimesonde isreliablysubglacial lake isolated from surface measure andsamplesubglacialwater while Sonde ‘RECAS’, thedesign ofwhichwould development ofRECoverable Autonomous the (China)undertook Jilin University 2012,PolarIn Research Center at pumped into thesondethrough the small The sonde thesideheatingpower is1,8kW. SONDE RECAS RECOVERABLE AUTONOMOUS throughout thedepthoficesheeton ∼ 10%-portion ofthemelted water is 10%-portion 2 , andfor the4-mlong The sondeisequipped ∼ 5 kW, and in 222.03.2013 11:00:18 2 . 0 3 . 2 0 1 3

1

1 21 GEOGRAPHY : 0 0 : 1 8 i1.nd22 22 gi113.indd

22 GEOGRAPHY of RECoverable Autonomous Sonde ,”RECAS” Fig. 6. Conceptual 3D-model and lessthan1‰(for δDofH mm The cableconsistsfrom signal two lines0,2 sonde itistransformed byvoltage transformer. voltage of3000–4000VDC,and theninthe the cable, thepower issuppliedatoperating contains 4000mofcable. To minimize size of coil contains1200mofcable, andanother one modificationsoftheRECAS:onewith two wasproposed toinside thesonde. design It onthecoil with down-holesensorsistwisted line for power supplyandcommunication ofthesonde. pies theupperpart The electric gear-motorThe coilwithdriven occu- section information onthesubglacialenvironment. Video camerasandsonarprovide additional velocity, andotherparameters. conductivity borehole, pressure, temperature, pH,sound to measure inclinationandazimuthofthe sonde isequippedbyinstrumentchamber quantitative analysisofdissolved gases. The Samples are maintainedatpressure, enabling be openedandclosedonthedemand. motors enablingthemto coupled electric bottle valves are usingmagnetically- actuated titanium water samplebottlesare installed. The oftheRECAStwelve 120ml themiddlepart In ∼1 minintegration time. to the surface computer system which to thesurface Pre-processed datafrom RECASistransmitted with 4000mcableis4,3m. 1200 mcableis1,3m,andthe lengthofcoil 3–4 mm. lengthofthecoil with The expected outer diameter ofthecableisinrange analyzed with sensitivity of1ppm(foranalyzed withsensitivity CH and water isotopes canbesimultaneously opticalcavity. finesse (V-shape) intoa diodelaserat2,4μmisinjected high- technique, spectroscopy absorption where based onopticalfeedback enhanced cavity [Alemany etal., 2012]. This spectrometer is Physics (LIPhy), Grenoble, France canbeused of Laboratory patented byInterdisciplinary spectrometer systempurpose, OF-CEAS by embeddedlaserspectrometer. For this separated inthemembrane, andanalyzed point. The gasdissolved inthiswater is hole located justabove thelower hot- 2 and two coaxial power andtwo lines2mm 2 O) over 2 20.0311:00:19 11:00:19 22.03.2013 . The . The 4 ) i1.nd23 23 gi113.indd possible achieves 350 W/m depends from thelatitudesandashighest through summer. flux Solarradiationvertical the sunshinesfor periods extended weatherDespite theextreme inAntarctica, winter months. controlled dieselengines thedark during ofwind,capacity and(iii)automatically wind generators dependingfrom site and in theform ofbatteries, (ii)autonomous the summer, storage electrical short-term uses combinationof(i)solarpower during ideal power system willtherefore beonethat without refueling orotherintervention. The powerto for provide electrical afullyear The RECASpower supplyshouldbeable 1,5 kW; computer 0,4kW, lossesincable electric coil motor 0,5kW, sensorsanddown-hole side heating1,8kW, upperhot-point 5kW, is summarized from lower hot-point 0,5kW, up theRECAShighestpower consumption cable 1,5kW; totally ∼10kW. moving During spectrometer, etc. 1kW, lossesin electric motor 0,2kW, sensors, down-holecomputer, heating 1,8kW, upperhot-point 0,5kW, coil summarized from lower hot-point 5kW, side the RECAShighestpower consumptionis Power supply. movingdown During within afew minutes. to establish anSSHlinkto RECASatany time isrequired. ispossible manual intervention It to mobile phonesto inform ahumanthat SMS messagescanbeautomatically sent to webpages for and humaninspection, messages. Dataisautomatically uploaded BurstData ground-station, andwithShort modemsviaPPPto theIridium the Iridium transfers datato/from using theinternet practical perspective, inorderpractical to meet drop in temperature. To putthisinto producing 5%more 10°C power for every solar cellsare significantly more efficient, silicon sells. Atlowtemperatures thesilicon of∼25%foraverage polycrystalline efficiency withan photovoltaic panelsinto electricity the solarpower by canbeconverted period. Roughly, December at thewarmest totally ∼9,7 kW. 2 and even more above thehorizon for greater than of chemical wash, HPV and UV sterilization andUVsterilization of chemicalwash,HPV components willbesterilized bycombination Performance. interval. required servicing recirculation system inorder the to extend installed withitsownbulkoilfiltrationand addition,eachengineof themodule. is In to helpregulate temperature theinternal also usedto store heatfrom theengines nine monthsofcontinuousrunningandis forcontains enoughcapacity greater than of oneyear servicing. between The fueltank ensures acleanfuelsupplyfor aminimum aviation fuel. Abankoflarge fuelfilters Plateau. The engines are runonJet-A1 corresponding to thealtitudeofAntarctic pressurethan 1,5kWatatmospheric with amaximumpower outputofgreater cooled dieselengine of350ccdisplacement air- highefficiency,compact, single-cylinder [Lawrence etal., 2008]. The Hatz1B30isa PLATO site Antarctic testing observatory set ofHatz1B30dieselengines usedby automatically controlled dieselengines, e.g. The mostreliable power supplyis buffering.implies large battery assumes low windgenerat windswillberelatively mild, the katabatic this is ratherhighontheAntarcticplateau that power [Allison thesite etal., location 2012].If and 5m/swindspeedgives only the 2,8-power-law relation withwindvelocity, outputpower showed isin thatturbine types) Hummer,generators (Raum, andBergey from windvelocity. Tests with1kWwind supply, strongly depends buttheirefficiency be agoodalternative ofrenewable power The autonomous windgenerators could average of∼ produced amaximumofover 200 W andan showedAntarctica thateachpanelofthistype supply [Lawrence etal., 2008]. Tests inCentral of 167 W at25°Ccanbeusedaspower with area 1,2m panels. For example, theConergyC167P panel require somethingof50–60m power supply,the 10kWelectrical itwould 2 kW× 2 and nominal power output andnominalpower output All down-holeRECAS hr/day when the sun is hr/day when thesunis or efficiency and or efficiency 2 of photovoltaic ofphotovoltaic ∼ 12 hours. ∼ 90 W of of 90 W 20.0311:00:19 11:00:19 22.03.2013

23 GEOGRAPHY ggi113.indd 24 i 1 1 3 . i n d d

24 GEOGRAPHY 2 4 down ( abitlongertimethan theway should take the upperhot-point. The way to surface icewiththehelpof and meltingoverlying byspoolingthecable itself to thesurface put into action. The sondebegins to recover coil isswitched on,andthetop hot-point is samplingthemotor with 4. After connected and conductivity). subglacial conditions(P, T, pH,soundvelocity, itsamplesthewaterlake, andexamines 3. Sincethesondeenters into thesubglacial more 3–4months. about up to thedepthof3500mshouldtake The penetrationdownto subglacialreservoir analyzed byembeddedlaserspectrometer. water isseparated through membraneand into thesonde. The gasdissolved inthis sonde. Someofthemelted water ispumped released from thecoilinstalledinside communication withdown-holesensorsis lineforsonde. power Electric supplyand from theholeandrefreezes behindthe 2. The melted water doesnotrecover going oninsemi-automatic mode. leave operationsare thesite, andallfurther melt downto theicesheetbed. The personnel hot-point ispowered, to andthesondestarts thebottom trim, equipment isgotinto working icesheetabovethe Antarctic All subglaciallake. of onthesurface sonde isinstalledvertically At thebeginning ofthesummerseason 1. follows (Fig. 7): using.prior procedure isas The working Fig. 7. RECAS subglacial access strategy (explanations are given in the text) the in given are (explanations ∼ 4–5 months). this casesubglacialwater isreliably isolated Antarctic subglacialexploration becausein sonde RECASopensthe new stageof Using oftherecoverable autonomous surface. of accretion iceonthelower icesheet to formation ofanewadditionallayer [Talalay andMarkov, 2012]. This leads icesheetandreservoir between boundary phasetransitionontheentireice-water state, thuschanging theconditionsof equilibrium theirthermobaric disturbs isolated Antarcticsubglacialwater systems there. Moreover, openaccessingofthe microbiotathat themodern donotget borehole, there guarantee isnoiron-clad viathe withthesurface is connected with subsequentdifficulties. As thelake in theupwelling ofwater into thehole with thehydrostatic unbalanceresulted isconnectedAntarctic subglaciallakes and plannedprojectsfor accessingof The maintroublesome oftheimplemented 2011). and Vincent, environments were formulated (e.g., Doran initiatives to protect subglacialaquatic have beenestablished, althoughfew or standards for minimizingcontamination sensitive system. Currently, noclearprotocols millions years, theyhave to beextremely isolated for from theexterior thousandsand andriverswereAs farassubglaciallakes in full. did notgetfinancialandlogistical support field tests inAntarcticaisopenastheproject planned for 2013,butthescheduleof tests oftheRECASunitsare first laboratory people caneasilyoperate thesonde. The system), andsmallstaffof4–5drilling cheaper thanpenetrationwithhot-water The RECASisrelatively cheap(10–20times site.next andmovingto thepersonnel for servicing andwaitsthe sonde reaches thesurface 5. theSince 8–9monthsfrom starting CONCLUSIONS 222.03.2013 11:00:19 2 . 0 3 . 2 0 1 3

1 1 : 0 0 : 1 9 i1.nd25 25 gi113.indd of fail. inthecase ofitsrecovery the impossibility potential drawback oftheRECARusingis and canbeusedfor many times. The advantage isthattheRECASrecoverable embedded laserspectrometer. The big measure geochemicalsignals insituusing to sample subglacialwater, butalsoto sonde isablenotonlyto measure and not influencetheaccesstechnology. The andpressurefrom does surface, inthelake REFERENCES 6. Bulat S., Marie D., BulatS., Marie Petit J.-R. (2012).Assessing microbial life subglacialLake inextreme 6. E.W., Blake, Price, B. (2002).Aproposed samplingsystem sterile for Antarcticsubglacial 5. Bentley, B.R., C.R.,Koci, Augustin, L.J.-M., Bolsey, R.J., Green, J.A., Kyne, J.D., Lebar, D.A., Ma- 4. Bell, R.E., Studinger, M.,Fahnestock, M.A.,Shuman,C.A. (2006). Tectonically controlled 3. Allison,P., Auffenberg, J., Bard, R.andother45membersofARACollaboration. (2012).De- 2. Alemany, O., Chappellaz,J., Kerstel, E.,Romanini,D., Cattani,O., Falourd S.,CalzasM., Triest 1. .Fleckenstein, W.W., Eustes, A.W. (2007).Proposed environment lake subglacialAntarctic 9. Dowdeswell, M.J. J.A., (1999). Siegert, The dimensionsandtopographic settingofAntarc- 8. P.T., Doran, Vincent, W.F. (2011).Environmental Protection andStewardship ofSubglacial 7. Vostok, from accretion ice-lake water boundary samples. 12 waterVostok, boundary EastAntarcticafrom accretion ice-lake Polar Natl.lakes. Mem. Inst. Res., Vol. 56,pp. 253–263. Co., KGaA, Weinheim, pp. 221–308. andotherPlanets. Eds:Bar-Cohen, pling onEarth Y., Zacny, K. WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH& Environments. inExtreme Drilling andcoring.(2009). Icedrilling In: Penetration andSam- son, W.P., Shturmakov, A.J., Engelhardt, H.F., Harrison, W.D., Hecht,M.H.,Zagorodnov, V.S. Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 33,L02504. SubglacialMountains, EastAntarctica ontheflanksofGamburtsev subglacial lakes at theSouthPole. Physics, Astroparticle Vol. 35,Issue7,pp. 457–477. detector prototype Array EeVneutrino Radio oftheAskaryan sign andinitialperformance 2012,Presqu’îleOctober deGiens, Côte d’Azur, France. ofAbstracts.p. 165. Booklet Partnerships inIceCoreInternational Sciences(IPICS).First OpenScienceConference. 1–5 J., Lefebvre E.,Possenti P., DuphilR.,Piard L.(2012). The newSUBGLACIOR probe. drilling 2007-1047, Extended Abstract 033. Abstract 2007-1047, Extended access methodology. U.S. and Geological Survey The NationalAcademies; USGS OF- sheets. Bulletin, ofAmerica Geological Society Vol. 111,pp. 254–263. water andimplicationsfor storage beneathcontinentalice tic subglaciallakes large-scale II,andR.A. Bindschadler.M.C. Kennicutt Geophys. Monogr. Ser., Vol. 192,pp. 149–157. Aquatic Environments. Antarcticsubglacialaquaticenvironments. In: Eds.: M.J. Siegert, Workshop onAstrobiology, EANA’12. 15–17,2012. Sweden, October Stockholm, pertinent remarks onRECASdesign. pertinent and constructive State for University) very (Byrd Polar Research Center, theOhio China. The authorthanks Victor Zagorodnov Committee ontheRecruitmentof Talents, organized bytheCentral Coordination ThousandTalentscalled Program”)(also “The RecruitmentProgram ofGlobalExperts”“The theresearchThis paperdescribes doneunder ACKNOWLEDGMENT th European  20.0311:00:20 11:00:20 22.03.2013

25 GEOGRAPHY i1.nd26 26 gi113.indd

26 GEOGRAPHY 22. Siegert, M.J., Behar, Siegert, A.,Bentley, SubglacialLake: M.etal. (2006).ExplorationofEllsworth 22. M.J., Carter, Siegert, S., Tabacco, I.,Popov, S.,Blankenship, D.D. (2005).Arevised inventory 21. Robin,G.deQ., Drewry, D.J., D.T. Meldrum, studiesoficesheetand (1977).International 20. Proposed Antarctica (2012).Final Ellsworth ExplorationofSubglacialLake Comprehen- 19. operationsofthe Press ofArctic andAntarctic Research Main Institute: RelationsService 18. Popov, S.V., Masolov, V.N., Lukin, V.V. (2011).Lake ofice, Vostok, thickness EastAntarctica: 17. (1976). methodbyEGIG in1968atStation K. probe Philbert, The thermal deep-drilling 16. Robin,G.deQ. Oswald, beneaththeAntarctic icesheet., G.K.A., (1973).Lakes Vol. 15. Lawrence, J.S., Allen,G.R.Ashley, M.C.B. and33others. (2008). The PLATO Antarcticsite 14. P.A. Kropotkin, Period. (1876).Investigation Notes ofQuaternary ofRussianGeographical 13. A.P., Kapitsa, RobinG.Q., M.J., J.K., Ridley Zotikov I.A.(1996).Alarge Siegert deepfreshwater 12. A.P. Kapitsa, ofEast oficesheetinthecentralpart andmorphology (1961).Dynamics 11. Fricker, H.,Powell, A.R.,Priscu, J., S.,Christner, S.,Anandakrishnan, B.,Tulaczyk, Fisher, A.T., 10. Environ. Sci.Biotechnol., Vol. 6,pp. 161–179. explore, measure andsampletheenvironment ofa West Rev. Antarctic subglacial lake. A conceptpaperonthedevelopment, organisation and execution to ofan experiment of Antarctic subglaciallakes. Antarctic Science, Vol. 17(3),pp. 453–460. Philos.bedrock. Trans. R.Soc. London, Vol. 279,pp. 185–196. Paper IP-30, CEP6b, Agenda Item: 86pp. sive Environmental Evaluation.XXXV Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, Working Russian]. pdf [In tute, St-Petersburg, 2013,www.aari.nw.ru/news/text/2013/РАЭ100113. Russia,10January 04.01–10.01.2013. andAntarctic ResearchRussian Antarctic Expeditionduring Insti- 25–35 [inRussian]. subglacialandbedrockdepth ofthelake, topography. SnowandIce, Vol. 1(113),pp. coln, USA,28–30Aug. 1974.Lincoln,USA.pp. 117–132. Jarl-Joset, Proc. Central Drilling: Greenland. Ice-Core oftheSymp. Univ. Lin- ofNebraska, 245, pp. 251–254. pp. 701227-1–701227-12. strumentation for Astronomy II.Eds:L.M.Stepp andR.Gilmozzi. Vol. no. 701227, 7012,art. Proceedingstesting observatory. oftheConference In- onGround-Based andAirborne Society. St.Petersburg, Vol. 7,717pp. [inRussian]. beneaththeiceofcentralEastAntarctica.Nature,lake Vol. 381,pp. 684–686. Antarctica. Transactions ofSovietAntarcticExpedition. Vol. 19,93pp. [inRussian]. 199–219. II,andR.A.Bindschadler. M.C.Kennicutt M.J. Siegert, Geophys. Monogr. Ser., Vol. 192,pp. Access Research Project. AntarcticSubglacialAquatic Drilling Environments. In: Eds.: (2011). SipleCoast subglacialaquaticenvironments: The Whillans IceStream Subglacial Holland, D., J., Mitchell, A.,Scherer, Horgan, H.,Jacobel, R.,Mikucki, R.,Severinghaus, J. 20.0311:00:20 11:00:20 22.03.2013 i1.nd27 27 gi113.indd 3 . Zubov, ofseaiceandground ice. N.N. (1959).Limitsofthickness Meteorology andHydro- 35. Zotikov, I.A.(2006). SubglacialLake The Antarctic Vostok: , BiologyandPlane- 34. Zotikov, I.A.(1963).Bottom meltingin thecentralzone oftheiceshield ontheAntarctic 33. M.J. (2011). Wright, A.,Siegert, The identificationandphysiographical settingofAntarctic 32. Wilhelms F. penetrationfrom anicedriller’s andabiologist’s (2007).Sub-glacial perspec- 31. Water samplingofthesubglacialLake Vostok Comprehensive (2002).Draft Environmen- 30. Vasiliev, N.I., Talalay, P.G., and Vostok IceCore Deep Parties. Drilling (2011): Twenty years of 29. Vasiliev, N.I.,Lipenkov V.Ya., Dmitriev, A.N.,Podolyak, A.V., Zubkov, V.M. (2012).Resultsand 28. Ueda,H.T., D.E. core atByrd Garfield, Station,Antarctica.IASHPubli- (1970).Deep drilling 27. Talalay, P.G., Markov, A.N.(2012).Icemassbalanceanddynamicschanging ofAntarctic 26. Talalay, P.G. (2012b).Subglacialtillandbedrock drilling. Cold Regions Scienceand Tech- 25. Talalay, P. (2012a).Russianresearchers reach subglacialLake Vostok inAntarctica.Advan- 24. Talalay, P.G. (2006).Penetration plansandreality. into subglaciallakes: Nature. Vol. 9.pp. 23. logy. Vol. 2.pp. 22–27[inRussian]. 140pp. UK, tology. Springer-Praxis BooksinGeophysical Sciences. Praxis Publishing Ltd., Chichester, ences Journal, Vol. 8(1),pp. 36–44. continent anditsinfluenceuponthepresent balanceoftheicemass. Hydrological Sci- nogr. Ser., Vol. 192,pp. 1–7. environments. II,andR.A.Bindschadler. Eds.:M.C.Kennicutt M.J. Siegert, Geophys. Mo- Anupdate based onrecentsubglacial lakes: subglacialaquatic Antarctic discoveries. In: tive. Geophysical Research Abstracts, Vol. 9.SRef-ID:1607-7962/gra/EGU2007-A-09619. CEP4c, 45pp.Item: tal Evaluation.XXV Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, PaperWorking WP-019, Agenda thedeepestholeinice.drilling ScientificDrilling, Vol. 11,pp. 41–45. 4 (120),pp. 12–20[inRussian]. andthefirsttapping ofLake of5Gholedrilling characteristics Vostok. SnowandIce, Vol. cation, Vol. 86,pp. 53–62. 2012, Presqu’île deGiens, Côte d’Azur, France. ofAbstracts.p. 125. Booklet Partnerships inIceCore Sciences(IPICS).First OpenScienceConference. 1–5October ice sheetastheresult ofopenaccessingisolated International subglacialreservoirs. nology. [Accepted –inpress]. ces inPolar Science. Vol. 23,No. 3.pp. 176–180. 45–53 [inRussian]. 20.0311:00:20 11:00:20 22.03.2013

27 GEOGRAPHY i1.nd28 28 gi113.indd

28 GEOGRAPHY with co-authors). ofdepths0-450meters (2008, ofEastAntarcticIceSheetattheinterval and extension FeaturesAntarctica (2006,withco-authors); dependingondepth ofdynamicproperties SpecificFeaturesAntarctic IceSheet(2006,withco-authors); inEastern oftheIceDynamics just-established College Engineering. of Construction Since September 2010hehasbeenengagedinresearch asProfessor attheJilinUniversity ofthe till andbedrock (2013, drilling Vol. 86,pp. 142–166). coauthor); Twenty years thedeepestholeinice(2011,withcoauthors);Subglacial ofdrilling inPolar activity andNon-Polarand Russiandrilling ice. (2007,with Achronological history sheets. Heistheauthorofabout150publications. publications: Fifty Main years ofSoviet with different technology inPolar ofdrilling aspects Regions, especiallyonglaciersandice Polar Research Center atJilinUniversity. research His interests are associated Mikhail A.SysoevMikhail Alexey N.Markov Pavel G. Talalay graduated withhonorfrom theDrilling ice sheetdynamics. publications:Features Main ofdynamicsEast . andsamplingofAntarcticsubglacialaquaticdrilling Jilin University, research China. His directionisfocused onclean Chinese Government Scholarshipfor Master-degree studyingin 2012hehasgot and All-RussianstudentCADcompetitions. In study several timesheclaimedfirstplacesinthe International asminingmechanicalengineer. University Mining the During mainscientific researchAntarctic . His refers to Antarctic years inthefieldofborehole ofexperience logging inArcticand Research Center atJilinUniversity, China.Hehasmore than20 asProfessor 2011heworks Institute. SinceDecember ofPolar he received hisPhD from theSt.-Petersburg State Mining 2010, ofRussianAntarcticExpedition.In Operative Management 2010 hewasleadingengineer onlogistics oftheCenter on St.-Petersburg uptoOffice, Institute. Afterwards State Mining from asengineer 1986to ofAntarctic Research 1992heworked Engineer theperiod -Geophysicist asMining in1986.In Institute Committee ontheRecruitmentof Talents, China,andsince Talents Program” organized bytheCentral Coordination 2010hehasgotagrant fromSciences in2007.In Thousand “The Candidate of Technical of Sciencesin1994,andDoctor Technical St. Petersburg Hereceived Institute). degrees State Mining of attheLeningrad(since1991 Institute Mining of thedepartment senior engineer, researcher, associate professor, professor, head from asengineer, theperiod 1984toDuring 2010heworked Engineer in1984. andobtainedDiplomaofMining Institute Technology and Technique attheLeningrad Mining Department December 2010hebecameadirectorDecember ofthe graduated withhonorfrom Leningrad Mining graduated in2012from Saint-Petersburg State 20.0311:00:20 11:00:20 22.03.2013