Grant Award View - GA66801

Calcium carbonate deposits formed under the Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS) at peak glacial conditions contain information about both the existence of life-sustaining environments at the ice-bedrock interface and processes that generate basal meltwater. These dark, cold environments sustained diverse microbial communities thrived because there were diverse energy sources and, astonishingly, sometimes hosted microorganisms commonly associated with hydrothermalism. The subglacial carbonates reveal that subglacial volcanism occurred at glacial maxima and created sub-AIS oases where life thrived. Volcanically-induced basal meltwater discharge may have also contributed to ice sheet destabilization as well contributing to the influx of Fe-laden freshwater into the Southern Ocean. Consequently, the study of well-dated sub-AIS carbonates will increase knowledge of Life on ours and other planets, as well as poorly known subglacial hydrology and processes under the AIS.