A team of molecular biologists and geologists claim they have found 8 million year old microbes embedded in buried glacier ice they collected in Beacon Valley, Dry Valleys, Antarctica. Bidle and others pulished their finding in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
In a recent issue of the journal Geology Lyle et al. present new sediment core data suggesting that deep flow in the South Atlantic ocean started as late as the late Oligocene. The Antarctic circumpolar current was thought to have thermally isolated Antarctica in the Eocene, so that an ice sheet could develop. Recent modeling studies, however, suggested that the story is more complex. Lyle et al. explain that shallow circulation may have existed earlier than the late Oligocene as indicated by Nd isotope studies, but that deep flow with vertical mixing was established by 23-25 Ma. These findings have consequences for studies of the evolutionary biology of the region as well. For more information read the abstract here
The 10th International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences has freely accessible online proceedings. Publication has started and will continue until the start of the symposium 26 August-31 August 2007 in Santa Barbara. Two types of contributions are available: 4-5 page peer-reviewed Short Research Papers and Extended Abstracts (not peer-reviewed). Click here to connect to the online proceedings.
A recent article in the journal Geology by Sorlien et al., reports on interpretations of seismic data that indicate that ice was draining into the eastern Ross Sea from Mary Byrd Land as early as the Oligocene.For more information see the press release here or read the abstract here.
Photo: Bruce Luyendyk
Satellite data indicates that hundreds of glaciers on the Antarctic Peninsula are flowing faster than expected. Faster ice drainage leads to sea level rise, a major concern for low-lying coastal areas elsewhere. Authors Pritchard and Vaughan published an article on this topic in the Journal of Geophysical Research last week. More in:
After a successful drilling season in 2006, preparations for the upcoming season of the Antarctic Drilling Program (ANDRILL) are underway. In Fall 2007 ANDRILL plans to drill a deep hole through sedimentary strata in southern McMurdo Sound. On-ice scientists from the United States, New Zealand, Italy and Germany currently go through extensive medical and dental exams. McMurdo station, where most scientists will be stationed, has limited medical facilities. More about ANDRILL..
