Million year old Antarctic Lake to unveil billions of secrets

Antarctic ice drilling that would allow scientists to get to Lake Vostok (East) hidden for millions of years, will become one of the most important scientific events equal to the launch of the Large hadron collider. Scientist can only guess what can be found there. Pravda.Ru interviewed Andrey Balashev, a member of the Institute of molecular genetics, to find out what scientists expect to find.

Lake Vostok is located under the surface of the central Antarctic ice sheet 4,000 meters (13,000 ft) thick. It has been isolated from the surrounding world for millions of years, so scientists expect to find a unique ecosystem that has no analogies on Earth.

Vostok is the largest of 140 subglacial lakes found under the surface of Antarctica. It covers the area of over 14,000 km2 (nearly 6,000 mi2). Despite the high pressure created by ice, the lake can be populated by microorganisms since the water is warm enough (approximately 50F) and oxygen concentration is high.

In order to obtain preliminary data about habitants of Lake Vostok, the scientists research other hidden bodies of water in Antarctica that are smaller and located under thinner layer of ice. Despite the fact that most of these bodies of water are covered with ice nine months of the year, there is still life in them.

Antonio Alcami, a Spanish scientist, and his colleagues from the National Research Council examined water samples from Antarctica's Limnopolar Lake and discovered several thousand species of microorganisms many of which were not previously known to science.

The findings included numerous viruses from 12 different families. Some of them were found and described for the first time.

Viruses are very important for closed ecosystems with only a few microbiological predators. They are capable of controlling the number of organisms and preventing their excess.

Unfortunately, these viruses are difficult to study in a lab since they do not grow in artificial conditions. However, the technology of allocating and decoding genome allowed scientists to learn many new facts about the biological role of viruses.

Antonio Alcami said that many of the scientific concepts about viruses were wrong. This made the scientists reconsider their thoughts about viruses and the role they play in microbiological systems.

Spanish scientists think that the information about larger variety of species in the Antarctic region is the main result of their research. Multiple unique microorganisms prepared to survive in extreme conditions live in subglacial lakes.

Besides, the scientists discovered that population of viruses in Antarctic lakes depends on a season. As the lakes freeze, only the smallest viruses stay in their liquid areas while bigger species fall into anabiosis in thick ice.

In summer, when a part of the ice melts, large viruses come back to the lakes. Virtually, the lakes are different bodies of water with different water composition in summer and in winter.

The reasons for this are yet unknown, but it is suggested that the number of microweeds in water has something to do with it. Most likely, large viruses wake up when microorganisms start breeding. They infect them and fall asleep again.

Pravda.ru talked to Andrey Balashev, Doctor of Biological Science, a member of the Russian Institute of molecular genetics, to find out what is hidden under the Antarctic ice.

“Lake Vostok and other bodies of water located in Antarctic are unique areas of alien flora and fauna on Earth. Such ecosystems have been isolated from the rest of the world for a long time, and their evolution took its own unique path.

At the moment the drilling is suspended. The scientists are concerned that terrestrial microorganisms that would get into the closed ecosystem of the lake would kill everything alive.

At the same time, we have no idea what is hidden under the ice. It is obvious that the pressure of over 300 atmospheres leaves no opportunity for discovering large multi-celled creatures, but there are many microorganisms and viruses.

By the way, we cannot rule out that the viruses of Lake Vostok might be adaptable to life outside of the lake, but we might not be able to co-exist with them. The researchers have a lot to think about prior to resuming the drilling of the ice above Lake Vostok.”

Source - Pravda.ru

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Giant crack in Africa may become a new ocean

A 35-mile rift in the Ethiopian desert will likely become a new ocean eventually connecting the Red Sea with the Arabian Sea, researchers now confirm.

The crack that was opened in 2005 is about 20 feet wide in spots, and some geologists believed then that it would spawn a new ocean. But that view was controversial, and the rift had not been well studied.

A new study involving an international team of scientists and reported in the journal Geophysical Research Letters finds the processes creating the rift are nearly identical to what goes on at the bottom of oceans, further indication a sea is in the region's future.

The same rift activity is slowly parting the Red Sea, too.

Using newly gathered seismic data from 2005, researchers reconstructed the event to show the rift tore open along its entire 35-mile length in just days. Dabbahu, a volcano at the northern end of the rift, erupted first, then magma pushed up through the middle of the rift area and began "unzipping" the rift in both directions, the researchers explained in a statement today.

Via - MSNBC

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Geologist says Earth has shrinking waistline

According to a new study from Russian Geologist at Kant Russian State University in Kaliningrad, our planet is shrinking. Since its early days the Earth’s average radius has reduced by 585 kilometers.

Professor Vyacheslav Orlenok says , "4.5 billion years ago, when Earth’s surface had just started to solidify, the little blue ball was a bit bigger. Its average radius was 6,956 km, and has since reduced by 585 km.

Over the eons this resulted in the reduction of its surface by 128 million square kilometers, as compared to the total area of all the continents today of about 149 million square kilometers. The shrinking is a major factor in tectonic processes such as the movement of continental platforms".

The reduction in size was due to gravitational forces and the loss of mass caused by the Sun’s radiation blowing away hydrogen atoms from the Earth’s atmosphere, explains the scientist, who has been studying the formation of Earth’s oceans and crust for more than 30 years.

The theory of a shrinking earth is contestable, commented Vladimir Shevchenko, a geologist at the Institute of Earth Physics, who spoke to Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper.

“Now it’s impossible to make an exact calculation of the ancient Earth’s radius based on ancient structures,” he said, adding that alternative theories of an expanding or “pulsating" Earth also exist.

A reduction in the radius and considerable variations in the volume, surface area, mass, and average density of the earth were calculated from amplitudes of the Precambrian and present-day surface relief.

Over a period of 4 Gyr, the overall reduction in the Earth’s radius from heat and mass losses was determined to be 52 km or 1.30 × 10−3 cm/year. At the same time, the gravitational contraction of the radius was estimated to be 52.0 km or 1.30 × 10−3 cm/year as well.

A good correlation between the epochs of global cratonization of the earth’s crust and the reduction in the sphere volume was established. The inverse problem of calculating the heat flow from the gravitational contraction of planets was solved.

The theoretical value for heat flow on the Moon’s surface (1.7 × 1018 J/year) is comparable to that measured by American astronauts (1.9 × 1018 J/year).

Via - RussiaToday

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Scientists Create First Three-dimensional Global Map of Electrical Conductivity in Earth's Mantle

<-- Scientists have mapped Earth's electrical conductivity on a global-scale in 3-D for the first time.

As tags on household appliances warn, water conducts electricity extremely well. Now, scientists have found that enhanced electrical conductivity in parts of Earth's mantle may signal the presence of water far below our planet's surface.

The researchers created the first global three-dimensional map of electrical conductivity in the mantle. Results of their study are published this week in the journal Nature.

The areas of high conductivity coincide with subduction zones--places where tectonic plates are being subducted beneath the Earth's crust, say the Oregon State University (OSU) scientists who performed the research. They used electromagnetic induction sounding of the Earth's mantle in the study. The method is very sensitive to interconnecting pockets of fluid in rocks and minerals.

"This work is important because it complements global 3-D seismic imaging of Earth's interior, which uses sound waves generated by earthquakes," said Robin Reichlin, program director in the National Science Foundation (NSF)'s Division of Earth Sciences, which funded the research. "Scientists may be able to combine these two methods to tease out a more detailed understanding of variations in Earth's inner composition, water content and temperature."

Subducting plates are comparatively colder than surrounding mantle materials and should be less conductive, geologists have believed. However, the OSU scientists suggest, conductivity in these areas may be enhanced by water drawn downward during the subduction process.

"Many earth scientists thought that tectonic plates are not likely to carry much, if any, water deep into the Earth's mantle," said Adam Schultz, a geologist at OSU and a co-author of the Nature paper. "Our model, however, clearly shows a close association between subduction zones and high conductivity. The simplest explanation is water."

The study provides new insights into the fundamental ways in which our planet works, Schultz says. Despite advances in technology, scientists are still unsure how much water lies beneath the ocean floor--and how much of it makes its way into the mantle.

The implications are myriad. Water interacts with minerals differently at different depths, and small amounts of water may change the physical properties of rocks, alter the viscosity of materials in the mantle, assist in the formation of rising plumes of melted rock, and ultimately affect what flows out on the surface.

"In fact, we don't really know how much water there is on Earth," said Gary Egbert, an oceanographer at OSU and co-author of the paper. "There is some evidence that there is many times more water below the ocean floor than there is in all the oceans of the world combined. Our results may shed some light on this question."

There may be different explanations for how the water--if indeed the conductivity is reflecting water--got there.

"If it isn't being subducted down with the plates," Schultz said, "is it primordial, down there for four billion years? Or did it come down as the plates slowly subduct, suggesting that the planet may have been much wetter a long time ago? These are fascinating questions for which we don't yet have answers."

Anna Kelbert, a post-doctoral researcher at OSU and lead author of the paper, says that the next step is to replicate the experiment with newly available data from both ground observatories and satellites, then conduct further research to better understand the water cycle and how its interaction with deep-Earth minerals works.

Ultimately, the scientists hope to produce a model quantifying how much water may be in the mantle, locked up in its rocks.

Their work is also supported by NASA.



A Press Release from National Science Foundation , 19 August 2009

Photo Credit: Anna Kelbert

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Recovery Funding for Yellowstone and Other Volcano Observatories to Improve Monitoring and Public Safety

Residents and critical infrastructure in the nation’s six highest-risk volcanic areas—including the Yellowstone region-- will benefit from increased monitoring and analysis as a result of Recovery Act funds being channeled into volcano monitoring, Secretary Salazar announced today.

The U.S. Geological Survey is planning to use $15.2 million of its American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to upgrade volcano monitoring and the analysis and distribution of eruption information at the five volcano observatories that cover Wyoming, Alaska, Hawaii, the Northwest, California, as well as the network that covers the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

“These stimulus funds will not only create or preserve jobs, but also could very well preserve lives,” said Secretary Salazar. “The funds help protect both people on the ground as well as airline passengers flying over the eruption-prone regions. At the same time that the funds are helping public safety, they are also spurring scientific innovation with economic benefits.”

The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory in Wyoming, jointly operated by the USGS, Yellowstone National Park, and the University of Utah, will coordinate the expenditure of $950,000 in USGS recovery funds for two primary purposes: (1) upgrade seismic and other monitoring systems within Yellowstone National Park, and (2) create a variety of software tools, alarming capabilities and display systems for use by partners and collaborating state agencies.

Although the last volcanic eruption was prehistoric, Yellowstone is the largest and perhaps most persistently restless volcano in the United States. Rock-hurling steam explosions are relatively frequent and the intense seismic activity around New Year’s 2009 highlighted flaws within the existing monitoring network as well as the extent of public concern about the Yellowstone Volcano. Yellowstone National Park experienced an intense swarm of earthquakes around New Year’s Day that attracted concern nationwide.

Work to be conducted with ARRA funds is divided into six projects, coinciding with the six high-risk volcanic areas in the United States. In addition to $950,000 for Yellowstone, these allocations are $7.56 million for the Alaska Volcano Observatory, $2.4 million for the Cascades Volcano Observatory in Washington state, $3.3 million for the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, , $200,000 for the Long Valley Observatory in California and $800,000 for upgrading networks in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas.

The funds for all of the observatories will support universities and local government agencies as scientific partners in volcano observatory activities, as well as private sector companies that manufacture scientific instruments, provide aviation services, and supply computer expertise

The United States and its territories contain 169 volcanoes considered capable of erupting. One, Kilauea in Hawaii, has been erupting continuously for the past 26 years, at times inundating residential areas with lava and at other times requiring national park closures due to explosions and toxic gas.

Another, Redoubt Volcano in Alaska, shot ash clouds to heights of more than 50,000 feet several times this year. The three-month long eruption appears to have paused and may have ended, but not before severely disrupting aviation operations, repeatedly dusting Alaskan communities with ash, and forcing an oil storage facility to suspend operations.

The USGS volcano observatories warn of impending eruptions, track ongoing eruptions in real time, and assist communities and the flying public in minimizing their vulnerability to volcano hazards. Monitoring volcanoes is a diverse activity that requires networks of geophysical instruments on volcanoes transmitting data to observatories, coupled with the capabilities to detect ash, volcanic gas, and hot spots with satellite imagery; to measure gas and acquire thermal imagery from aircraft; and to understand past behavior of the volcanoes and what human activities and infrastructure are at risk.

Volcano monitoring is only effective if linked to rapid means for communication of hazard information to communities, businesses, government agencies, and the public. ARRA funds will be used to modernize instrumentation and information systems to state-of-the-art, providing the necessary tools to communicate hazard information quickly to those who need it.



A News release from US Department of the Interior

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What Science Says About Beach Sand and Stomach Aches

By washing your hands after digging in beach sand, you could greatly reduce your risk of ingesting bacteria that could make you sick. In new research, scientists have determined that, although beach sand is a potential source of bacteria and viruses, hand rinsing may effectively reduce exposure to microbes that cause gastrointestinal illnesses.

“Our mothers were right! Cleaning our hands before eating really works, especially after handling sand at the beach,” said Dr. Richard Whitman, the lead author of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study. “Simply rinsing hands may help reduce risk, but a good scrubbing is the best way to avoid illness.”

For this study, scientists measured how many E. coli bacteria could be transferred to people’s hands when they dug in sand. They analyzed sand from the shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago. Using past findings on illness rates, scientists found that if individuals were to ingest all of the sand and the associated biological community retained on their fingertip, 11 individuals in 1000 would develop symptoms of gastrointestinal illness. Ingestion of all material on the entire hand would result in 33 of 1000 individuals developing gastrointestinal illness.

In a further laboratory experiment, USGS scientists determined that submerging one’s hands four times in clean water removed more than 99% of the E. coli and associated viruses from the hands.

In recent years, USGS scientists have discovered that concentrations of E. coli bacteria in beach sand are often much higher than those in beach water. Follow-up research at beaches around the nation by many scientists has resulted in similar findings, although the amount of bacteria in sand varies depending on the beach. Although beach water is monitored for E. coli as mandated in the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act (BEACH Act 2000), beach sand is not currently monitored for contamination.

Recent analysis of seven beaches across the nation by the University of North Carolina -Chapel Hill and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency showed that beachgoers digging in sand were more likely to develop gastrointestinal illness after a day at the beach compared to those not digging in sand. The association with these illnesses was even stronger for individuals who reported being partially covered up in sand. Because children played in the sand more frequently and were more likely to get sand in their mouths, they were more likely to develop gastrointestinal illness after a day at the beach.

“The excess illnesses we observed among those exposed to sand generally consisted of mild gastrointestinal symptoms, but it is a good idea to be sure to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after digging or playing in the sand,” said Chris Heaney, lead author of the UNC study.

E. coli is an indicator of recent sewage contamination and if it is present, pathogens harmful to human health are also likely present. The origin of these bacteria is often unknown. They can persist throughout the swimming season, remaining a potential contamination source to beach visitors.

Results of these studies highlight the need to intensify efforts to determine sources of microbial contamination to beaches and associated risk of playing in beach sand.


News release from USGS

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