Abstract
Lake Vostok, the largest Antarctic sub‐glacial lake (14,000 km2), lies beneath nearly 4 km of ice. Sub‐glacial geophysical observations and studies of ice accreting at the lake‐glacier interface are the only means available to obtain information on the environment and dynamics of this huge water body formed several million years ago. Accretion ice has been studied using high‐resolution synchrotron X‐Ray micro‐fluorescence. For the first time, liquid brine micro‐droplets (3–10 μm) are observed, coexisting with large irregular sulfur‐rich aggregates (10–800 μm) containing gases and a mixture of very fine particles. Most of these objects are sequestered inside large crystals that grew slowly after ice formation. Their structure and composition support the existence of hydrothermal activity at the lake bottom and the occurrence of haline water pulses carrying fine solid debris and eventually biota from a deeper evaporitic reservoir into the lake.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
