Antarctic lake study a step closer

A University-led project to explore a subglacial lake in Antarctica has concluded its first phase. A team of four British Antarctic Survey engineers has returned to the UK after travelling to the West Antarctic Ice Sheet to put in place equipment and supplies for the second phase of the project, to be carried out later this year. Researchers taking part in the Natural Environment Research Council-funded project will use a high-pressure hot water drill to bore through 3km of ice above Lake Ellsworth, before lowering a titanium probe. The corer will sample water and sediment from the lake, which has lain undisturbed for many thousands of years. Challenging terrain. The samples we hope to capture from Lake Ellsworth will be hugely valuable. Professor Martin Siegert School of GeoSciences - The Subglacial Lake Ellsworth advance party endured temperatures of minus 35C to tow nearly 70 tonnes of equipment across Antarctic ice, over deep snow and steep mountain passes.
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