Multiple science groups are working in the dry valleys on their respective projects at any given time during the season. We had a great time this season working and living in the dry valley camps with the other scientists. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to photo document all the other science happening, so we will just mention a couple of the projects here.
At Lake Fryxell we spent time with a group of New Zealand scientists (here's their blog: http://cyanobacterialadventures.blogspot.com/) who studied microorganisms growing on the bottom of the lake. Because of the formation that these organisms grow in, they are referred to as “mats”. How do you collect mat samples growing on the bottom of an ice-covered lake? …dive in!
At Lake Fryxell we spent time with a group of New Zealand scientists (here's their blog: http://cyanobacterialadventures.blogspot.com/) who studied microorganisms growing on the bottom of the lake. Because of the formation that these organisms grow in, they are referred to as “mats”. How do you collect mat samples growing on the bottom of an ice-covered lake? …dive in!
Tyler, the diver, emerges from the Lake Fryxell dive hole.
We stayed at Lake Bonney camp with multiple scientists working on the dry valley Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) teams. LTER teams study various aspects of lake chemistry, geology, and stream inputs. Every other year one of the LTER teams pulls up a sediment trap which sits at the bottom of the lake and allows for the collection of sediments falling through the water column.
The sediment trap is essentially a funnel with the bottom in line with sample bottles.
The sample bottles are rotated at pre-determined times over two years so that scientists can observe sediment accumulation on a seasonal basis. Here are the sample bottles removed from the sediment trap.
The instrument is large and heavy (and expensive!) so the team carefully pulled it out of the lake using an ATV. It was really something to see!
Sediment trap surfacing.