Scientists in search of clues to climate change have begun an exploration of a lake that lies deep beneath an Antarctic ice sheet.
While an estimated 150 lakes have been discovered beneath the region, initial tests have revealed Lake Ellsworth has a depth of roughly 350 feet, making it an ideal spot to investigate microbial life and recover climate records, the researchers claim.
"We are particularly interested in Lake Ellsworth because it's likely to have been isolated from the surface for hundreds of thousands of years," said Martin Siegert of the University of Edinburgh.
Also, previous measurements have indicated the lake may be connected to others that could drain ice from the west Antarctic ice sheet to the ocean and contribute to sea-level rise, he added.
"If the survey work goes well, the next phase will be to build a probe, drill down into the lake and explore and sample the lake water," said Andy Smith, a glaciologist at the British Antarctic Survey who is leading the study. "The UK could do this as soon as 2012."
<i>Source:Xinhua/Agencies</i>
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