Antarctic lake mission targets life and climate signs

[dipsydoodle]

A pioneering British expedition to sample a lake under the Antarctic ice hopes to find unknown forms of life and clues to future climate impacts.

The mission will use hot water to melt its way through ice 3km (2 miles) thick to reach Lake Ellsworth, which has been isolated from the outside world for at least 125,000 years - maybe a million.

The team hopes to be the first to sample a sub-glacial Antarctic lake.

An engineering team leaves the UK later this week along with 70 tonnes of gear.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15245594

I would assume they'll have the same logistic problem of the final breakthrough a has occurred in Lake Vostok - risk on contamimation. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12275979