Cutting-Edge Research

Dr. Michael Studinger's LDEO web page
 

Studying Subglacial Lakes, Ice Sheet Dynamics and Tectonics in Antarctica with Aerogeophysics The polar regions play a critical role in Earth's climatic and geodynamic systems. Although located far from the main centers of human civilization, the polar atmosphere and oceans have strong global connections and therefore directly affect climate, landscape evolution, the global biosphere and human society. Over geologic time scales, Antarctic geodynamic processes are a major influence on ice sheet dynamics and global environmental change, which affects current and long-term, large-scale sea-level change. My research at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University links solid Earth geophysics and glaciology, providing unique research opportunities. I use integrated sets of aerogeophysical data, including gravity, magnetics, ice-penetrating radar, and laser altimeter measurements, to study physical processes linking tectonics, ice sheet dynamics and life in extreme environments, such as subglacial lakes. Here are some links to research conducted by Michael and LDEO colleagues:   Subglacial Lake Vostok information and slide show New Map Reveals Hidden Features of Ice-buried Antarctic Lake (NSF Press Release 04-091) Lake Vostok Workshop Report (1998) http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/res/pi/vostok/ http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/~mstuding/ http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/~mstuding/vostok http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/news/vostok/vostok.swf http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/news/story3_2_01.html http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/news/2003/story01-21-03.html Other Research and Media links: Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition Lake Vostok homepage BBC The Lost World of Lake Vostok (2000) Montana State University AAAS Presentation National Geographic News "Does Life Exist in Antarctic Lake Buried Under Miles of Ice?" (2004) Science@NASA "Exotic Microbes Discovered near Lake Vostok" (1999)