InfoSearched
Published -
- April 16, 2020
- 2:49 pm
Did you know that Antarctica has a glacier that bleeds red?
Five stories high and emerging from the Taylor Glacier in the Dry Valleys of Antarctica, Blood Falls seeps into an ice-covered body of water called Lake Bonney. It’s one of the continent’s most enigmatic natural features and has fascinated scientists for decades. What makes it red? Does it always flow? And can anything actually survive near it? To find out—and see just how bizarre Blood Falls is with their own eyes—Caitlin and Arlo travel to the Dry Valleys, about 60 miles from McMurdo Station. There, they meet with microbiologist Jill Mikucki and hydrogeologist Peter Doran to investigate why this glacier looks the way it does, what lives there (spoiler: CHARISMATIC MICROBES!), and what clues it holds for finding and understanding life on other planets and moons in our solar system, like Mars, Jupiter’s Europa, and Saturn’s Enceladus. Answering these questions, it turns out, requires lots of probes, cameras, and even a massive sensor hanging from a helicopter.
What are the potential risks to the environment and human activity if more subglacial lakes are uncovered due to climate change?
In recent years, numerous reports have emerged about a mysterious phenomenon occurring in the icy continent of Antarctica, where some of its glaciers seem to be “bleeding.” One of the most notable examples is the Blood Falls, a rusty-red waterfall that flows out of the Taylor Glacier in the McMurdo Dry Valleys. But why is this Antarctic glacier bleeding, and what does it tell us about our planet’s past and future?
The answer lies in the unique geology and climate of Antarctica, particularly in its subglacial lake systems. Beneath the massive ice sheets that cover most of the continent, there exist vast networks of lakes and rivers, some of which have been isolated from the rest of the world for millions of years. These subglacial water bodies are formed by geothermal heat, which melts the ice from beneath and creates pools of liquid water that are insulated by the overlying ice.
One of these lakes, Lake Bonney, is located beneath the Taylor Glacier and has been the focus of much research by scientists. What they have discovered is that the lake contains an unusual amount of iron, which gives it a reddish hue similar to the Blood Falls. This iron-rich water is thought to have originated from an ancient sea that covered Antarctica more than 200 million years ago, when the continent was part of a supercontinent called Gondwana.
Over time, this iron-rich water became trapped beneath the glacier and formed the subglacial Lake Bonney. The pressure and weight of the overlying ice kept the lake sealed from the outside world, until the Taylor Glacier began to melt at its edges. As the glacial ice receded, the subglacial lake was exposed to the surface, and its iron-rich water interacted with oxygen in the air, creating the distinctive rust-red color.
While the Blood Falls may be a fascinating natural wonder, it also serves as an example of the dramatic changes occurring in Antarctica due to climate change. As temperatures rise and ice melts, more subglacial lakes are being uncovered, leading to new discoveries and insights about the history and evolution of our planet. However, it also means that ancient and potentially pristine environments are being exposed to the outside world and could be at risk of contamination by human activity.
The melting of glaciers in Antarctica is also contributing to sea-level rise, which poses a threat to coastal communities and ecosystems around the world. As the ice sheets continue to melt, more water will flow into the oceans, causing more frequent and severe floods, storms, and other extreme weather events.
In conclusion, the “bleeding” of Antarctic glaciers such as the Blood Falls is a natural phenomenon caused by the unique geology and climate of the frozen continent. However, it also highlights the threats facing Antarctica and the rest of the planet due to climate change and human activity. By studying these glaciers and the subglacial lakes beneath them, scientists are learning more about our planet’s past and present, and hopefully, finding ways to protect it for future generations.
