Blood Falls -- Life Beneath a Rusty Glacier (2 of 2) (IMAGE)

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Blood Falls -- Life Beneath a Rusty Glacier (2 of 2)

Caption

Iron oxides stain the snout of the Taylor Glacier, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, forming a feature commonly referred to as Blood Falls. The iron originates from ancient subglacial brine that episodically discharges to the surface. Outflow collected at Blood Falls provides access to a unique subglacial ecosystem that harbors a microbial consortium which actively cycles iron, sulfur and carbon for growth. This image relates to an article that appeared in the April 17, 2009, issue of Science, published by AAAS. The study, by Dr. Jill Mikucki and colleagues was titled, "A Contemporary Microbially Maintained Subglacial Ferrous 'Ocean'."

Credit

Image courtesy of Ralph Maestas

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