Water contact may suggest Russians hit Antarctic lake

[n2doc]

A Russian drilling team is trying to confirm that they have finally hit Lake Vostok, a vast subglacial body of water hidden 3.5 kilometres beneath the surface of the Antarctic ice sheet (see map and diagram).

A spokesperson for the Russian Antarctic Expedition in St Petersburg told New Scientist this morning that the drill made contact with water late last week and then automatically withdrew up the borehole, as planned.

That suggests the lake has been breached, but the team are now checking the level of water in the borehole and readings from pressure sensors to confirm that the water did come from the lake and not a pocket of water in the ice above the lake. Ice temperatures rise as you go deeper into the ice sheet, and approach melting point just above the lake, so the fact that the team hit liquid water doesn't necessarily mean they've reached the lake.

"For the time being we are waiting for official confirmation," said the spokesperson. An announcement is expected within the next two days.

more
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21438-water-contact-may-suggest-russians-hit-antarctic-lake.html

[LongTomH]

1. Video reports from Russia Today's YouTube channel

Interview with Russian scientists:

&feature=colike

The second is a look inside the Antarctic lab:

Temperatures at the Antarctic base have gone as low as -89 Celsius.

[progressoid]

3. Heh. In that first video, she said ARTantic instead of Antarctic.

[eppur_se_muova]

2. Lake Vostok drilling team claims breakthrough (BBC)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16907998

Lots of background, but no indication whether this is any news beyond the OP -- i.e. doesn't appear to be "official confirmation" ...