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Context

Mount Erebus volcanic ice caves harbor unique microbial life surviving without sunlight offering insights into astrobiology, potential extraterrestrial habitats on Europa & Enceladus & aiding NASA robotic exploration for future space missions.

Key Highlights

Mount Erebus:

Stands at 12,448 feet (3,794 meters) on Ross Island.

One of few volcanoes on Earth with permanent lava lake.

Has network of underground ice caves formed by geothermal heat.

 Extreme Conditions Inside Ice Caves:

Temperatures reach 77°F (25°C) inside caves despite -100°F (-73°C) temperatures outside.

Fumarolic ice chimneys vent volcanic gases creating surreal crystalline formations.

Discovery of a Hidden Microbial World:

Thriving microbial ecosystems exist without sunlight relying on chemosynthesis instead of photosynthesis.

Some microbes have no known relatives on Earth with unidentified DNA sequences.

Bacteria in Warren Cave feed on volcanic emissions surviving in extreme isolation.

Life Adaptation to Extreme Environments:

Microbes use the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle typically linked to photosynthesis but powered by carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H₂) from volcanic vents.

No traces of Archaea suggesting a completely independent evolutionary path.

NASA Interest in Erebus for Astrobiology:

Erebus ecosystem mirrors conditions on Europa (Jupiter) and Enceladus (Saturn) where underground life might exist.

NASA is testing robotic technologies in Erebus caves including:

PUFFER foldable robot for exploring icy crevices.

Ice-drilling rovers with chemical sensors to detect organic molecules.

Implications for Extraterrestrial Life:

If microbes can thrive in Erebus dark, chemically driven environment similar life may exist in extraterrestrial ice-covered worlds.

Strengthens the case for future missions to explore subglacial oceans on icy moons.

Mount Erebus, Antarctica

Mount Erebus is an active stratovolcano on Ross Island, Antarctica standing at 3,794 meters (12,448 feet).

It is southernmost active volcano on Earth & one of very few with persistent lava lake that has existed for decades.

Unlike most volcanoes which erupt intermittently Erebus maintains constant, bubbling lava lake rich in alkali rich basaltic magma. This is extremely rare & provides direct window into Earth mantle.

Erebus emits gases that include carbon dioxide (CO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), hydrogen chloride (HCl), & hydrogen fluoride (HF).

Studies have detected gold & silver in Erebus’s emissions indicating that trace metals are present in volcanic gases contributing to mineral deposits.

Beneath the icy exterior geothermal heat melts tunnels through the glacier forming subterranean ice caves that constantly change due to freezing & melting cycles. Some of these caves contain temperatures as high as 77°F (25°C) despite brutal Antarctic surface temperatures of -100°F (-73°C).

In complete darkness without any organic input from the surface microbes thrive inside these ice caves surviving purely on volcanic gases through chemosynthesis.

Some microbes here have no known relatives on Earth & their DNA sequences are unlike anything studied before.

The unique conditions of Mount Erebus make it valuable analog for astrobiological research as similar environments might exist on Europa & Enceladus under their icy crusts.

Europa (Jupiter Moon)

Europa one of Jupiter Galilean moons has Surface covered in thick layer of ice beneath which scientists strongly believe there is a liquid water ocean up to 100 kilometers deep.

The gravitational pull from Jupiter & neighboring moons causes tidal flexing which generates internal heat. This could lead to cryovolcanism where warm, salty water erupts through the ice.

If Europa seafloor has hydrothermal vents similar to Earth deep sea vents chemosynthetic life could thrive in the absence of sunlight.

Europa Clipper set to launch in the 2030s will scan the moon ice shell measure its subsurface ocean & search for biosignatures (chemical signs of life).

Enceladus (Saturn Moon)

Enceladus has surface composed of bright, reflective ice & it actively ejects plumes of water vapor into space.

Beneath its ice shell (30-40 km thick) there is a global liquid ocean possibly in contact with a rocky seafloor providing conditions for hydrothermal activity.

South pole features fractures called "tiger stripes" where high pressure water escapes into space carrying complex organic molecules (carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen as well as methane).

NASA Cassini probe detected silica nanoparticles indicating that hot water from Enceladus core interacts with its rocky mantle much like Earth hydrothermal vents.

Chemosynthesis (Life Without Sunlight)

Chemosynthesis is a process where organisms derive energy from chemical reactions rather than photosynthesis (which requires sunlight).

Bacteria in the Erebus ice caves utilize carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H₂) from volcanic gases as energy sources producing organic molecules.

Similar chemosynthetic bacteria thrive on Earth hydrothermal vents leading scientists to believe that life could exist on Europa & Enceladus in the same way.

Fumarolic Vents (Volcanic Gas Emissions)

What Are Fumaroles? These are openings in a volcano where hot gases, steam, trace metals escape from magma chamber.

The volcanic gases of Erebus freeze upon exiting forming giant ice chimneys up to 30 feet (9 meters) high. These vents continuously reshape due to geothermal heat & freezing temperatures.

Gold (Au), silver (Ag), other metals have been detected in Erebus’s volcanic emissions suggesting potential for mineral deposition through volcanic activity.

Astrobiology

The study of life’s origins, evolution, its potential existence elsewhere in universe.

The microbial life found in Erebus extreme environment supports idea that similar organisms could survive in subsurface oceans of icy moons like Europa & Enceladus.

Cryovolcanism

Sources:

INDIA DEFENCE REVIEW