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US Subglacial Antarctic Lake Environments (SALE) Program

by CKennicutt — last modified 2007-10-17 15:35

nsf sale A strong and diverse community has developed in the US with interests in Subglacial Antarctic Lake Environments (SALE) exploration and research. While many workshops and meetings have been conducted, US SALE interests will benefit from better coordination and advocacy.

The US Subglacial Antarctic Lake Environments (SALE) Program is a long-term exploration and research program formed by a group of scientists and technologists who share the goal of a comprehensive and environmentally safe investigation of subglacial environments with a special focus subglacial lakes. (Image to the right from NSF)

A series of interlocking scientific objectives are being pursued in partnership with international scientists. These efforts will be supported by an extensive network of national polar science and logistics agencies around the world. The US SALE Program welcomes and facilitates opportunities for US participation in the international collaborative teams that will be addressing common scientific and technological objectives. The community of SALE scientists, investigators, researchers, and students include ecologist, microbiologist, glaciologists, paleoclimatologists, sedimentologists, geophysicisists and limnologists. Numerous subglacial lakes have been identified that are likely to be quite different in terms of ages, evolutionary histories, and environmental settings. The scientific work of SALE will occur over the next decade or more. The International Polar Year 2007-2008 offers a once in a life time opportunity to advance and accelerate SALE activities, however SALE exploration and research will continue long after the IPY and strives to be a legacy of this latest focus on Earth’s polar regions.

Exploration of subglacial environments in general, and of subglacial lakes, in particular demands the development of new approaches to observing and sampling these unique and remote environments including technologies that minimize contaminant introduction and/or alteration of the environments being studied. New technologies will also be needed to reduce costs, optimize fuel utilization and minimize the overall environmental impact of the associated scientific campaigns. The challenges are many, but experiences in other arenas can be effectively adapted to inform and direct the planning and implementation of the SALE agenda.

The primary repository of information related to Subglacial Lake Environments is the SCAR SALE web site and the reader is referred there for additonal details.

US SALE Organization

ice stream The US SALE Program includes an Executive Committee (US SALE ExCom) and a US SALE Science and Technology Steering Committee (USSSTSC). The SALE ExCom provides senior leadership adecisionion making for all aspects of the US SALE program and coordinates education, outreach, and communication activities. Dr. Robin Bell is the Chair of the US SALE Program. The Science and Technology Steering Committee (USSSTSC) includes the ExCom and the Chairs of the Science and Technology Committees. The USSSTSC provides advice and expertise to the program on all science and technology issues. Dr. Robin Bell is the Chair of the USSSTSC. The US SALE Program includes a series of science, technology, education, and communications/public relations committees. The Committee Chair leads the committee, recruits committee members and communicates with the broader community. The committees operate relatively autonomously responding to requests for advice, organizing workshops/meeting as appropriate to set the SALE agenda in each focus area. The Chair identifies funding opportunities and leads, or assists, community responses to them. The Chair liaises with other SALE committees and organizations to develop cross-disciplinary connections and promote venues to consider common issues.