Scientists detected salty groundwater under the thick Antarctic ice that could sustain life, which could have implications for life on other planets.
A research team used airborne electromagnetic mapping sensor system called SkyTEM to reveal the extensive network of groundwater beneath the ice, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville reported. The finding suggests life could exist in Antarctica's harsh conditions, but also sheds light on how Antarctica has responded to climate change in the past.
"It may change the way people think about the coastal margins of Antarctica," said Jill Mikucki, a University of Tennessee, Knoxville, microbiology assistant professor. "We know there is significant saturated sediment below the surface that is likely seeping into the ocean and affecting the productivity of things that feed ocean food webs. It lends to the understanding of the flow of nutrients and how that might affect ecosystem health."
The scientists believe the freezing brine is home to similar microbial communities, and these communities could even be possible on the subsurface of Mars.
The sensor data was taken using a helicopter, so only large areas of rugged terrain could be measured. The team also flew over the Taylor Glacier, which is one of the best studied glaciers in the world. The glacier boasts a unique feature called Blood Falls, in which iron-rich brine from the subsurface is released at the glacier's front. The falls contain an active microbial community that uses iron and sulfur compounds to thrive, causing rock weathering in the process.
The research was published in a recent edition of the journal Nature Communications.
