Blood-red water flow in Antarctica may simulate Mars-like conditions

Ars Technica : A unique feature in Antarctica has been the subject of a recent study by Jill Mikucki of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and colleagues. The researchers flew an electromagnetic transmitter over an area called Taylor Valley to search for the source of Blood Falls—an outflow of salty, iron-rich water that stains the nearby glacier with what looks like blood. By measuring the ground’s electrical resistivity, the researchers located two zones of super-salty groundwater. They propose that the water originated more than 10 million years ago, when the climate was warmer and sea levels were higher. At that time, the valley could have been filled with seawater. As atmospheric temperatures cooled, that seawater began to freeze. The water that did not freeze became saltier and soaked into the valley floor. The researchers say the conditions are such that the salty groundwater could be home to microbial life. If so, it could help researchers better understand harsh environments like those on Mars, where salty groundwater may also have once supported life.