Ladakh: diverse, high-altitude extreme environments for off-earth analogue and astrobiology research. Issue 1 (13th February 2020)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Ladakh: diverse, high-altitude extreme environments for off-earth analogue and astrobiology research. Issue 1 (13th February 2020)
- Main Title:
- Ladakh: diverse, high-altitude extreme environments for off-earth analogue and astrobiology research
- Authors:
- Pandey, Siddharth
Clarke, Jonathan
Nema, Preeti
Bonaccorsi, Rosalba
Som, Sanjoy
Sharma, Mukund
Phartiyal, Binita
Rajamani, Sudha
Mogul, Rakesh
Martin-Torres, Javier
Vaishampayan, Parag
Blank, Jennifer
Steller, Luke
Srivastava, Anushree
Singh, Randheer
McGuirk, Savannah
Zorzano, María-Paz
Güttler, Johannes Milan
Mendaza, Teresa
Soria-Salinas, Alvaro
Ahmad, Shamim
Ansari, Arif
Singh, Veeru Kant
Mungi, Chaitanya
Bapat, Niraja - Abstract:
- Abstract: This paper highlights unique sites in Ladakh, India, investigated during our 2016 multidisciplinary pathfinding expedition to the region. We summarize our scientific findings and the site's potential to support science exploration, testing of new technologies and science protocols within the framework of astrobiology research. Ladakh has several accessible, diverse, pristine and extreme environments at very high altitudes (3000–5700 m above sea level). These sites include glacial passes, sand dunes, hot springs and saline lake shorelines with periglacial features. We report geological observations and environmental characteristics (of astrobiological significance) along with the development of regolith-landform maps for cold high passes. The effects of the diurnal water cycle on salt deliquescence were studied using the ExoMars Mission instrument mockup: HabitAbility: Brines, Irradiance and Temperature (HABIT). It recorded the existence of an interaction between the diurnal water cycle in the atmosphere and salts in the soil (which can serve as habitable liquid water reservoirs). Life detection assays were also tested to establish the best protocols for biomass measurements in brines, periglacial ice-mud and permafrost melt water environments in the Tso-Kar region. This campaign helped confirm the relevance of clays and brines as interest targets of research on Mars for biomarker preservation and life detection.
- Is Part Of:
- International journal of astrobiology. Volume 19:Issue 1(2020)
- Journal:
- International journal of astrobiology
- Issue:
- Volume 19:Issue 1(2020)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 19, Issue 1 (2020)
- Year:
- 2020
- Volume:
- 19
- Issue:
- 1
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2020-0019-0001-0000
- Page Start:
- 78
- Page End:
- 98
- Publication Date:
- 2020-02-13
- Subjects:
- analogue, -- astrobiology, -- high-elevation, -- hot-springs, -- India, -- Ladakh, -- permafrost
Exobiology -- Periodicals
576.83905 - Journal URLs:
- http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=IJA ↗
- DOI:
- 10.1017/S1473550419000119 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 1473-5504
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store
- Ingest File:
- 16851.xml