The Greenland Subglacial Lake & Ice Dynamics Experiment

The aim is to directly sample, instrument and assess life, hydrology and flow dynamics within and around a subglacial lake (SGL) beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet. SGLs are an extraordinary component of the hydrosphere and among the most extreme aquatic environments where life is found. The impact of the 1000s of predicted SGLs on ice sheet flow is also unconstrained and lacustrine sediments that drape their beds provide records of past environmental change and ice sheet stability. Direct access, sampling and analysis is a technical and scientific challenge requiring a focused yet multidisciplinary approach. G-SLIDE has five key objectives and will be first to: 1. Characterise a Greenland SGL along with its hydrological, glaciological and geological setting; 2. Drill multiple boreholes into it to sample its water, sediments and ice properties; 3. Analyse microbial life within it, along with its biogeochemical signature, cycles and flow-paths; 4. Determine the impact that SGLs have on basal hydrology and ice flow dynamics and; 5. Assess the past stability and future trajectory of the most vulnerable SW sector of the ice sheet. The ERC panel evaluation: "The exploration of the subglacial lakes of Greenland is a very ambitious project and likely to generate new knowledge of these systems, particularly regarding the life forms and their mode of metabolism. The panel recognized this as very exciting exploratory science, although there were some concerns about the broad-scale applicability and impact of the findings. WP4 to investigate the role of subglacial lakes in the hydrology and flow dynamics of the ice sheet was insufficiently developed, and the panel was not convinced that the results could be effectively scaled to address global issues. The PI is an excellent glaciologist with extensive experience in expeditions to high-latitude regions and a strong history of mentoring early career scientists." All points will be addressed and a full risk assessment implemented.