Beneath Antarctica’s ice cover, hydrothermal vents have been discovered with temperatures of around 300 degrees Celsius. These are zones where water heated deep within the Earth’s crust rises to the ocean floor. Despite the extreme temperature, the water remains liquid because of the high pressure at great depth.
The find is especially interesting because of the sharp contrast in conditions: kilometers of ice and one of the coldest climates on Earth above, and nearly boiling water below. Such hydrothermal systems are considered unique natural environments where ecosystems not dependent on sunlight may exist. Instead of photosynthesis, life there is based on chemical energy. Some microorganisms are able to obtain nourishment from sulfur compounds, metals, and other substances released along with the hot flows.
These vents are seen as a possible analogue of conditions on Jupiter’s and Saturn’s moons — Europa and Enceladus. Beneath their icy shells, there may also be warm oceans. If life can exist in the extreme depths of Antarctica, then the chances of finding it beyond Earth no longer seem like pure fantasy.
