Lake Bonney (Antarctica)

Infobox lake
lake_name = Lake Bonney
image_lake = Taylor Glacier (2474033).jpg
caption_lake = Taylor Glacier at the lake
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica
coords = coord|77|44|S|162|10|E|type:waterbody_region:AQ|display=inline,title
type = subglacial, saline
inflow =
outflow =
catchment =
basin_countries = (Antarctica)
length = convert|1.8|mi|km|abbr=on
width = convert|0.9|mi|km|1|abbr=on
area =
depth =
max-depth = convert|130|ft|m|abbr=on
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation = 57 m
islands =
cities =
frozen = Permanently 12 to convert|15|ft|m of ice

Lake Bonney (coord|77|44|S|162|10|E|type:waterbody) is a saline lake with permanent ice cover at the western end of Taylor Valley in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Victoria Land, Antarctica. To the north and south of the lake lie peaks that are over 3000 m above sea level, and the Taylor Glacier is positioned to the west of the lake. The lake is about 3 km (1.8 miles) long and 1.5 km (0.9 miles) wide. It is convert|130|ft|m deep and is perpetually trapped under 12 to convert|15|ft|m of ice.

It was first visited by the British Antarctic Expedition of 1901-1904. It was named by the Scott expedition of 1910-1913, for Thomas George Bonney, professor of geology at University College London, England from 1877 to 1901.

In 2008 NASA is proposing to use an autonomous submersible robot called ENDURANCE to explore the water volume of the lake to study its shape and ecology. The robot is a development of the DEPTHX submersible robot.

The work is seen as a stage in developing an autonomous submersible robot that could explore the ocean on Jupiter's moon Europa.

References

*gnis|1645|type=antarid U.S. Geological Survey , Geographic Names Information System. Accessed January 2008
*Lachance "et al." PDFlink| [http://www.homepage.montana.edu/~lkbonney/DOCS/Publications/PockockEtAl2004GreenAlga.pdf Identification of a Psychrophilic Green Alga from Lake Bonney Antarctica: Chlamydomonas Raudensis Ettl. (UWO 241) Chlorophyceae1] |1.99 MiB J. Phycol. 40, 1138–1148 (2004) Phycological Society of America.
* [http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Antarctic_Lake_Robot_Probe_Sets_Sights_On_Outer_Space_999.html Space Daily] April 22, 2007. Accessed January 2008

External links

Externalimage
align=left
width=70%

http://www.aber.ac.uk/~glawww/images/antarctic/taylor_and_bonney.jpgTaylor Valley and saline Lake Bonney] (One of the McMurdo Dry Valleys -a true polar desert with small 'alpine' glaciers. (Photo: © M. J. Hambrey)) [http://www.aber.ac.uk/~glawww/antarctic.shtml]

http://www.rosssea.info/pix/big/Taylor_Gl-Lake_Bonney.jpgLake Bonney and the lower Taylor Glacier] ( viewed towards the Beacon Heights) [http://www.rosssea.info/geology.html]