Comments for unitierra.org

Comment on What is the current status over the Vostok lake carrots samplings? by Κριστεν Χοφφαρο

Κριστεν Χοφφαρο — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:57:59 +0000

hmm…. as of now I did my research and checked the 2nd answerer’s sites and they also are outdated. I guess the info that you have at this moment is most current. I am going to keep researching on this one.

http://www.antarcticconnection.com/antarctic/news/2002/index.shtml this is the only current artical on this case I could find I hope it has all that you are asking for.
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I do research in Geology and the medical field

Comment on Why is Europa always compared to Lake Vostok? by Somes J

Somes J — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:28:59 +0000

Europa is hypothesized to have a liquid ocean under its icy surface. VERY similar to a lake under an ice sheet.
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Comment on Why is Europa always compared to Lake Vostok? by zim_8

zim_8 — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:17:59 +0000

Well, Lake Vostok is a large body of water underneath a thick sheet of ice. Europa's ocean is a large body of water underneath a thick sheet of ice. We don't know what the temperature of the Europan ocean is, (or if it even exists), but it can't be very cold, due to heating of the moon by tidal flexing.
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Comment on What is the current status over the Vostok lake carrots samplings? by John S

John S — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:13:59 +0000

That’s as far as I know at the moment.
Just done a "Google", and come up with these sites. Enjoy!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4577627.stm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Vostok
http://environment.newscientist.com/article/dn6238.html
http://www.antarcticconnection.com/antarctic/news/2006/030106lkvostok.shtml
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Comment on How many drill sites are used at Lake Vostok? by Punk Rock and Minerals

Punk Rock and Minerals — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:10:59 +0000

it is possible, but no one knows for certain, that is why the hole is being drilled

the entire lake is huge, so the whole thing won’t freeze, only the parts near the hole would freeze, and even that is unlikely as the glacier is two miles thick, creating a nice insulation for the lake. You don’t have much to worry about

the biggest threat is from microbes on the equipment that could contaminate Lake Vostok
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Comment on Why is Europa always compared to Lake Vostok? by T.T.K.

T.T.K. — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:05:59 +0000

There should be some similarities in their genesis…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Vostok
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:PIA01130_Interior_of_Europa.jpg
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Comment on What is the current status over the Vostok lake carrots samplings? by tinybabecrista

tinybabecrista — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:33:59 +0000

I am checking this out?
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Comment on How many drill sites are used at Lake Vostok? by Mountainboy19682

Mountainboy19682 — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:24:59 +0000

There is just one drill hole at Vostok that goes all the way to the lake. The Russians reported hitting liquid water at a depth of 12,366 feet. This hole was first drilled in 1998 and left for a long time just 300 feet short of the liquid interface.. A roughly 4 inch diameter core of ice has been taken for gas analysis. This is very expensive drilling and there are unlikely to be further holes into Lake Vostok.
The hole was filled with a mixture of freon and kerosene to prevent it freezing, while protocols were worked out to allow sampling of the lake water without polluting it.
Some of the core taken earlier from the hole was found to be lake water which had refrozen. This refrozen water contained bacteria. Whether the bacteria came from the lake or from contamination has been disputed.
After drilling into lake water, liquid rose several hundred feet in the hole and then froze. It is planned to take this ice as the water sample, thus preventing lake contamination.
The lake is so large (10,000 square kilometers) and the hole so small that there will be negligible effects of heating or cooling the lake.

site at
References :
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/09/world/europe/russian-scientists-bore-into-ancient-antarctic-lake.html
http://rt.com/news/vostok-lake-drilling-scientists-701/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Vostok

Comment on Why is Europa always compared to Lake Vostok? by al_moskowitz

al_moskowitz — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:18:59 +0000

I’ve actually never heard about this before, but it makes sense… I’m kind of surprised that the water in Vostok is below freezing (Water freezes at 276.13 K), but if in fact that is the case, then Europa’s water may be at a similar temperature… I have always been under the impression (from Chemistry mostly) that water stabilizes at about 3 degrees celsius at the lowest depths of the oceans (276 K). I’ve never heard of liquid water, at depth, being colder than that… This has to do with the geometry of the water molecule. I have always held that, because of the geometry, water is most dense at this temperature… So, consequently, Europa’s water at depth is probabaly also at this temperature. That’s why they are most likely making the comparison.

Thanks for the question… You’ve given me some research to do today! …and I’m looking forward to reading the other answers on this one…

UPDATE: OK, now it makes more sense. I just pulled this from Wikipedia…

BEGIN COPY

The average water temperature is around −3 °C ; it remains liquid below the normal freezing point because of high pressure from the weight of the ice above it. Geothermal heat from the Earth’s interior warms the bottom of the lake. The ice sheet itself insulates the lake from cold temperatures on the surface.

END COPY

The statement "…it remains liquid below the normal freezing point because of pressure caused by the weight of the ice above it…" tells the tale… This is why it is being compared to Europa and vice-versa… Europa is covered in a very thick layer of ice, even thicker than Antartica’s…

What would really be interesting now is to scan Vostok for life around "black smokers" if any exist. That would really seal the deal as it would give us a glimpse of how life could develop and sustain on Europa…

Again, what a great first question of the day… Thanks again.
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Comment on GPS installation above a subglacial lake in East Antarctica by williambewise

williambewise — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:51:08 +0000

…
FIIIIIIRSSSSSSSSSTTTTT. No but honestly this is amazing