FILMS

This short film follows the SALSA (Subglacial Antarctic Lakes Scientific Access) Traverse team as they use specialized tractors to haul roughly 1,000,000 lbs of science equipment across 600 miles of the Antarctic Ice Sheet. Large scale Antarctic research would be impossible without the hard work of the highly specialized "traversers" who spend months on end towing equipment across the ice. The SALSA Traverse's goal over the 17/18 field season was to establish a safe route to the study site and drop off equipment to be in place for the 18/19 field season. In December 2018, SALSA will drill 4,000 feet into Subglacial Lake Mercer to research the scarcely explored subglacial environment. Learn more about SALSA science here: http://salsa-antarctica.org/

Here's a preview as we travel about 1100 meters / 3500 feet down the borehole to Mercer Subglacial Lake. The UV collar of the borehole lights up, irradiating any sources of contamination. Once at the lake, we can see the transition between the lake water and the bottom of the ice sheet.