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This report provides an overview of the SCAR SALE Meeting # 3 held in Bozeman, Montana on June 6 and 7, 2007.
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The meeting was called to order and attendees were welcomed by J Priscu the Convener and host. Meeting attendees included SALE members, invited presenters, observers, and members of the press. C Ellis-Evans, S Imura, and Y Li were unable to attend and R Bell joined portions of the meeting by telephone. The meeting agenda was adopted and reporters assigned to half day sessions.
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P Doran provided a presentation of the recent US National Research Council Report entitled “Exploration of Subglacial Aquatic Environments: Environmental and Scientific Stewardship”. The presentation generated much discussion and SCAR SALE will be considering how to respond to the reports recommendations.
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Reports of recent SALE activities by Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy and the United States were presented.
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V Lukin, Russia Antarctic Expedition, reported on last season’s developments at Vostok Station and referred to ATCM XXX Information Paper IP 63. It was indicated that the Vostok borehole would be deepened during the 2007/2008 season and first entry into the lake would occur during the 2008/2009 season. New samples of accreted ice continue to be recovered and returned to the laboratory for study.
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S Bulat, Russia, reported on Russian/French collaborations on Subglacial Lake Vostok Accretion Ice Complex Biogeochemical Studies. The consortium now includes Germany (D Wagenbach, Heidelberg University) and Italy (C Barbante). Results from analyses of gas and microbial DNA contents were presented for one of the largest sediment inclusions yet found in the Vostok accretion ice.
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M Siegert provided an update and revised schedule for “Exploration of Subglacial Lake Ellsworth” and the ICECAP Program.
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JR Petit provided a report on France’s SALE activities and future plans. Studies are focused on the identification of biological signatures in accretion ice and the associated ice chemistry.
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F Pattyn provided an update on SALE activities in Belgium including modeling the stability of subglacial lakes and episodic draining and the Antarctic Subglacial Processes and Interactions (ASPI) program which is currently under review for renewal.
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F Pattyn also provided an update on SALE activities in Germany for C Mayer. These activities included study of circulation conditions in Lake Vostok and geodesy and remote sensing above Lake Vostok.
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C Barbante provided an update on SALE activities by Italy. Studies are ongoing in the Dome C region including geophysics, radar data analysis, geological studies, and the chemistry and biology of ice.
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J Priscu, R Bell, R Powell provided updates on SALE activities in the US. J Priscu reported on biological particles in the WAIS Divide ice core; R Bell reported on evidence for lakes as triggers for ice stream initiation, tectonic controls on lake locations, and an international partnership to explore Antarctica’s Gamburtsev province (AGAP); and R Powell reported on a program in the early planning stages to study Subglacial Lake Engelhardt.
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Invited speakers and topics included: H Kanda (Japan) - particles observed at the bottom of the ice core at Dome Fuji, I Alekhina – biological and chemical investigations of drill fluids; B Christner – the biological context for exploring subglacial Lake Vostok; M Skidmore – subglacial environments below Taylor Glacier.
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Routine SCAR SALE business was conducted in closed sessions and included: discussions of the program membership and balance (C Kennicutt noted that the original 4 years terms for many members expires next year and a plan for succession is needed), a budget overview, an update on the SCAR SALE website (the site will be completely replaced in the next few months), an update on SALE UNITED (the IPY SALE program – New Zealand was added as a participant), SCAR SRP performance and external review procedures (SCAR SALE will be subject to the 4 year external review in 2008 and details of how to prepare for this review will be clearer after the SCAR Executive Meeting in July 2007), and SALE sessions at the SCAR Open Science Conferences (there will be a subglacial environment session in St. Petersburg in 2008).
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SALE Subcommittees on data management and accessibility, education and outreach, and technology provided reports. It was agreed that these subcommittees needed to be more active between meetings, that agreed terms of reference for each committee were needed, and that all SALE members would respond timely for requests for assistantce.
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Russia volunteered to host the next SALE meeting. It was suggested an abbreviated business meeting might be conducted during the SCAR OSC in St Petersburg. However it was noted that this will already be a very busy time. Further discussion is needed before a venue for the 2008 SALE meeting can be agreed.
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Action items were agreed, the meeting was recapped by J Priscu, attendees were thanked for participating, and the meeting was adjourned.
