Relic and Active Cold Permafrost Springs in the Arctic as Martian Analogs

Biology

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0448 Geomicrobiology, 0475 Permafrost, Cryosphere, And High-Latitude Processes (0702, 0716), 5200 Planetary Sciences: Astrobiology, 6225 Mars

Scientific paper

The discovery of presumably geologically recent gully features on Mars (Malin and Edgett 2000) and the revelation by the MER rover Opportunity that Meridiani Planum may have once been the site of a significant body of water (or groundwater) at or near the surface of Mars (Squyres et al. 2004) has significantly increased the prospects of locating sites capable of hosting microbial life. Future exploration of potential habitats for extant life or evidence of past life on Mars will require fundamental knowledge of life and habitable environments on Earth particularly those found in regions with a mean annual temperature well below freezing. We describe a series of perennial springs and associated periglacial features (seasonal icings, frost mounds and pingos) along with their physical, chemical and biological components that occur in a region of thick continuous permafrost in the Canadian High Arctic at latitudes of nearly 80° N and higher. A recently discovered paleospring site located on Axel Heiberg Island will also be described and discussed as an analog to relic martian springs.

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