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Agenda Item:
4.2
Person Responsible:
XXXIII SCAR Delegates Meeting
Auckland, New Zealand, 1-3rd September 2014
ATHENA: Advancing TecHnologies and ENvironmental
stewardship for subglacial exploration in Antarctica
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Executive Summary (1 page)
Title: ATHENA: Advancing TecHnologies and ENvironmental stewardship for subglacial exploration in
Antarctica
Authors: J.L. Wadham and P.T. Doran
Introduction/ Background:
The goal of the ATHENA Expert Group was to lay the foundations for future SAE exploration via the
development of rate limiting Technological and Environmental infrastructure. The aims of this Expert Group
are as follows
a. To establish the critical environmental and technological infrastructure for the future access,
sampling and monitoring of Antarctic subglacial aquatic environments (SAE)
b. To work with SCAR action groups, expert groups and research programmes to promote interdisciplinary science on Antarctic SAE.
To provide an independent and international forum for the sharing of information and data during the run
up to and execution of funded lake access drilling campaigns (e.g. US-WISSARD, UK-Lake Ellsworth and
Russia-Lake Vostok).
Important Issues or Factors: The funding of this group has now terminated. However, a number of
activities extended beyond the time frame of the group and are documented in this report.
Recommendations/Actions and Justification: No actions requested.
Expected Benefits/Outcomes: (if the actions are taken what outcomes are expected)
Partners: n/a
Budget Implications: Remaining unspent funds for ATHENA are being used to support ATHENArelated activities at the SCAR Open Science Conference in Auckland in August, 2014.
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ATHENA: Advancing TecHnologies and ENvironmental
stewardship for subglacial exploration in Antarctica
1. Chief Officers
J.L. Wadham and P.T. Doran
2. Major Future Initiatives and Actions
Funding for SCAR-ATHENA has now terminated. Continuing, but unfunded, activities include:
1) Publication of a special issue for the Annals of Glaciology focussed upon clean
technologies for subglacial science in Antarctica (due in 2014)
2) If requested by SCAR, planned participation of several group members in a revised code of
conduct for exploration of Antarctic subglacial aquatic ecosystems (which should be led by
the SCAR Action Group: Code of Conduct for the Exploration and Research of Subglacial
Aquatic Environments (AG-CCER-SAE).
3) Session on Exploration of subglacial aquatic environments to take place at the SCAR Open
Science Conference (Auckland, 2014), invited presentation at the SCAR Mini Symposium
on “Clean technologies for deep subglacial exploration in Antarctica” by J.L. Wadham.
3. Major Activities and Significant Progress
i) Selected publications; databases; workshops and meetings; Education and Outreach; Data and
Information activities
ii) Subsidiary Bodies (Action, Expert groups etc.) Outcomes and e.g. whether any should be
disbanded
1) Presentation of an Information Paper to accompany the SCAR Lecture at the Antarctic
Treaty meeting in May 2013 (J.L. Wadham)
2) Publication of a special issue for the Annals of Glaciology focussed upon clean
technologies for subglacial science in Antarctica (due in 2014)
4. Budgetary Implications
The remaining ATHENA budget ($1000) will be used to support activities at the SCAR Open
Science Conference in Auckland.
Appendices
N/A
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