HR: 16:15h
AN: C24A-02    [Abstracts]
TI: Sublgacial Antarctic Lake Environments (SALE)
AU: * Kennicutt, M C
EM: mck2@gerg.tamu.edu
AF: Office of the Vice President for Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 United States
AU: Bell, R E
EM: robinb@ldeo.columbia.edu
AF: Lamont-Doherty Observatory, Columbia University , Pallisades, NY 10962-8000 United States
AU: Priscu, J C
EM: jpriscu@montana.edu
AF: Department of LRES, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717 United States
AB: Subglacial Antarctic lake environments are emerging as one of the new frontiers targeted for exploration during the IPY 2007-2009. Several campaigns by various nations are in the early stages of planning and implementation with timelines that will coincide with the IPY. The ambitious interdisciplinary objectives will best be realized by multiple exploration programs investigating diverse subglacial environments continent-wide over the next decade or more. A concerted, multi-target approach wil be taken to advance our understanding of the range of possible lake evolutionary histories; the character of the physical, chemical, and biological niches; the interconnectivity of subglacial lake environments; the coupling of the ice sheet, climate and the evolution of life under the ice; the tectonic settings; and the interplay of biogeochemical cycles. Research and exploration programs spanning the continent will investigate subglacial lake environments of differing ages, evolutionary histories, and biogeochemical settings. The combined efforts will provide a holistic view of these environments over millions of years and under changing climatic conditions. The IPY will provide an opportunity for an intense period of initial exploration that will advance scientific discoveries in glaciology, biogeochemistry, paleoclimate, biology, geology and tectonics, and ecology. While early discoveries and exciting findings are expected during the IPY 2007-2009, a long term sustained program of research and exploration will continue far beyond the IPY. Within the five year period that spans the IPY, specific accomplishments will be targeted, accelerating the research agenda and setting a framework for follow-on studies. Four phases of exploration and discovery are envisioned.
UR: http://salegos-scar.montana.edu
DE: 1055 Organic geochemistry
DE: 1615 Biogeochemical processes (4805)
DE: 1620 Climate dynamics (3309)
DE: 0400 Biogeosciences
SC: Cryosphere [C]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting