Summary of the Findings

Collectively, the results from this expedition have transformed the way we view the continent of Antarctica. 

  • Although Mercer Subglacial Lake is a freshwater lake, the sediment samples revealed that less than 10,000 years ago the ocean covered the area of the continent where the lake is today. 

  • Given that CO2 levels were lower then, this implies that the ice covering West Antarctica is extremely susceptible to warming temperatures.

  • The lake waters were shown to have high concentrations of nutrients, which are exported to the ocean when the lake drains, feeding life in coastal ocean environments. 

  • A decade ago the interior portion of the Antarctic continent was thought to be devoid of life. The work has shown that the Antarctic sub-ice environment consists of vast wetlands and a mosaic of rivers and lakes.

  • Antarctica must now be considered part of the Earth’s biosphere with a dynamic role in the Earth System.

 

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