I first learned about Lake Vostok when I watched from a BBC Horizon documentary last month without knowledge that Russians are near on reaching the surface of the lake. Last February 05, Russian scientists claimed to have completed 3,768 meters ice drill(the longest ever recorded) to reach the surface of a lake under a glacier in Antartica.
The theory of a lake under the ice of Antartica was first proposed in the end of the 19th century but it was only during 1973 that Lake Vostok was only discovered, when British scientists performed airborne ice-penetrating radar surveys in Antarctica. They detected unusual radar readings at the site which suggested the presence of freshwater lake below the ice. It wasnt untill 1993 that data were published from satelite surveys to confirm the findings from the 1973 British surveys. This confirmed that this subglacial body of fresh water is one of the largest lakes in the world. But unlike any other lake in the world, this is sealed off by 3.7 kilometers thick of ice for the last 15 million years
The lake is under complete darkness, under 350 atmospheres (5143 psi) of pressure and expected to be rich in oxygen. Since the confirmation of its existence scientists have speculated that lifeforms, alien to our usual understanding, are possible to exist in this isolated region. But for now Russian scientist are only starting to examince water samples from their drilling. US and British scientists close heels now with Moscow to race for the discovery of life.
A confirmation of life in Lake Vostok could strengthen the prospect for the presence of life on icy moons of Europa and Enceladus. These icy moons have long been theorized to harbor liquid water beneath the ice. Evidence from pictures points to the possibilty of liquid ocean beneath thier icy surface.
The theory of a lake under the ice of Antartica was first proposed in the end of the 19th century but it was only during 1973 that Lake Vostok was only discovered, when British scientists performed airborne ice-penetrating radar surveys in Antarctica. They detected unusual radar readings at the site which suggested the presence of freshwater lake below the ice. It wasnt untill 1993 that data were published from satelite surveys to confirm the findings from the 1973 British surveys. This confirmed that this subglacial body of fresh water is one of the largest lakes in the world. But unlike any other lake in the world, this is sealed off by 3.7 kilometers thick of ice for the last 15 million yearsThe lake is under complete darkness, under 350 atmospheres (5143 psi) of pressure and expected to be rich in oxygen. Since the confirmation of its existence scientists have speculated that lifeforms, alien to our usual understanding, are possible to exist in this isolated region. But for now Russian scientist are only starting to examince water samples from their drilling. US and British scientists close heels now with Moscow to race for the discovery of life.
A confirmation of life in Lake Vostok could strengthen the prospect for the presence of life on icy moons of Europa and Enceladus. These icy moons have long been theorized to harbor liquid water beneath the ice. Evidence from pictures points to the possibilty of liquid ocean beneath thier icy surface.
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| Icy Surface of Europa | Enceladus geysers on its icy surface |
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