Ultra-clean 1000 Metres deep borehole into Mercer Subglacial Lake, Antarctica (IMAGE)

GFZ GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Helmholtz Centre

Ultra-clean 1000 Metres deep borehole into Mercer Subglacial Lake, Antarctica

Caption

View down an ultra-clean hot water borehole drilled into Mercer Subglacial Lake, a freshwater lake located more than 1000 metres beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet. The lake is hydrologically active, meaning water flows through it to the coast, much like lakes on land. Meltwater from this lake is highly enriched in biologically essential trace elements like Iron.

Credit

Katryn Kasic, Montana State University

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