On Antarctica’s Deception Island, steam rises from the beach and glaciers dot the black slopes of what is actually an active volcano — a rare clash of ice and fire that is providing scientists with insights into what life on Mars might be like. clue.
The horseshoe-shaped island in the South Shetland Islands is the only place in the world where ships can sail into the crater of an active volcano.
Here, in waters about 420 kilometers (260 miles) from Puerto Williams, Chile, fish, krill, sea anemones and sponges survive, while unique lichens and mosses grow on the surface in an ecosystem of extraordinary contrasts.
This uninhabited island may be home to the world’s largest colony of chinstrap penguins, seabirds, seals and sea lions.
The volcano has been active for thousands of years, with its most recent eruptions occurring in 1967, 1969 and 1970, destroying British and Chilean bases and forcing the evacuation of an Argentine base.
On an island, however, life always returns and thrives, and although temperatures may plummet to -28 degrees, the water in the steam vents, or fumaroles, has been measured to be about 70 degrees Celsius (158 degrees Fahrenheit).
Spanish planetary geologist Miguel de Pablo told AFP it was “similar to Mars in that we have a planet that had huge volcanic activity[in the past]… and currently has very cold conditions”.
De Pablo added: “This is the best approximation we can make to understand Mars without setting foot on the planet.”
rich history
Analysis of the Deception Island rocks complements the work of engineers, scientists and astronomers studying Mars remotely.
In 2023, NASA researchers concluded based on evidence found on the red planet by the Curiosity rover that Mars once had a cyclic seasonal climate that was conducive to the development of life.
Scientists believe a massive volcanic eruption changed Earth’s atmosphere, causing oceans and rivers to appear and then evaporate.
Although temperatures on Mars are much cooler now – NASA estimates them at about -153 degrees Celsius – “Antarctic conditions can help us understand whether there might be conditions for life to develop on Mars,” De said. Pablo.
Another Mars rover, Perseverance, landed on Mars in February 2021 to search for signs of past microbial life.
The multi-mission rover will collect 30 rock and soil samples in sealed tubes and return them to Earth for laboratory analysis sometime in the 2030s.
The United Kingdom, Chile and Argentina all claim sovereignty over the South Shetland Islands, but they are not under the jurisdiction of any one country. The 1959 Antarctic Treaty stipulates that they should be used “for peaceful purposes” and guarantees “freedom of scientific investigation.”
First discovered by British sealers in 1820, Decepcion Island has a rich history, with an abandoned scientific base and an old whaling station rusting in the freezing air.
Wilson Andres Rios, a researcher and captain on a Colombian naval frigate conducting scientific expeditions in Antarctica, said hunting of seals and whales on the island was “indiscriminate” in the early 20th century.
In 1931, a Norwegian whaling station on the island closed due to plummeting whale oil prices.
Then, in 1944, Britain established a base there as part of a secret wartime mission to occupy Antarctic territory.
After several expulsions and volcanic eruptions, the island is now dedicated to scientific research.
And, under the watchful eye of scientists, thousands of tourists are now arriving by cruise ship.
Natalia Jaramillo, scientific coordinator of the Colombian expedition, said the phenomenon was “worryingly increasing”.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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