Comparing flow-through and static ice cave models for Shoshone Ice Cave

Williams, Kimberly; McKay, Christopher P.

doi:10.5038/1827-806x.44.2.2

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Cave geometry also determines how surface conditions will influence the cave environment (de Freitas & Littlejohn, 1987 ; Tuttle & Stevenson, 1978 ; Williams & McKay, 2015 ; Williams et al., 2017 ). Acquiring a data set with adequate statistical power to model how temperature and humidity varies by structure will enable a robotic platform to both identify the most stable and buffered locations within a cave (Q11), which, in most cases, will represent the regions of optimal habitability and thus the best locations to sample for evidence of life (Q12).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, Q10 highlights the importance of cave ice. Airflow, which is also influenced by cave geometry as well as surface temperature and barometric pressure shifts governs cave temperature and humidity regimes and water/water ice stability (Perșoiu & Onac, 2019 ; Williams & McKay, 2015 ; Williams et al., 2017 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The most important geology question (Q15, which garnered 82% of the votes from respondents) queried whether water ice deposits or solid carbon dioxide occur in caves on the Moon and Mars. Caves with (water) ice deposits are well known on Earth and may be present on Mars and the Moon under specific environmental conditions (Cooper, 1990 ; Perșoiu & Onac, 2019 ; Williams & McKay, 2015 ; Williams et al., 2010 , 2017 )—when sublimation and frosting dominates (Schörghofer, 2021 ). Sublimation could also generate cavities in water ice or solid carbon dioxide on the polar ice caps of Mars, as well as on icy bodies across the solar system (see Wynne et al., 2022 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fundamental Science and Engineering Questions in Planetary Cave Exploration

et al. 2022

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Nearly half a century ago, two papers postulated the likelihood of lunar lava tube caves using mathematical models. Today, armed with an array of orbiting and fly-by satellites and survey instrumentation, we have now acquired cave data across our solar system-including the identification of potential cave entrances on the Moon, Mars, and at least nine other planetary bodies. These discoveries gave rise to the study of planetary caves. To help advance this field, we leveraged the expertise of an interdisciplinary group to identify a strategy to explore caves beyond Earth. Focusing primarily on astrobiology, the cave environment, geology, robotics, instrumentation, and human exploration, our goal was to produce a framework to guide this subdiscipline through at least the next decade. To do this, we first assembled a list of 198 science and engineering questions. Then, through a series of social surveys, 114 scientists and engineers winnowed down the list to the top 53 highest priority questions. This exercise resulted in identifying emerging and crucial research areas that require robust development to ultimately support a robotic mission to a planetary caveprincipally the Moon and/or Mars. With the necessary financial investment and institutional support, the research and technological development required to achieve these necessary advancements over the next decade WYNNE ET AL.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fundamental Science and Engineering Questions in Planetary Cave Exploration

et al. 2022

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“…In the literature on ice caves formed within glaciers, conduit development results mainly from flowing water, either through moulins or along the glacier base (Gulley et al., 2009). While air flow in ice caves and resulting ice melt has been investigated through the lens of “cold‐air traps” or the “chimney effect” (Bertozzi et al., 2019; Luetscher & Jeannin, 2004; Meyer et al., 2016; Williams & McKay, 2015), these processes do not adequately describe systems that are formed entirely within ice and solely from advective air flow driven by temperature and pressure gradients at the ice‐bedrock interface. Strictly speaking, this last category is glacio‐thermo karst and is amplified in regions with increased geothermal gradient and, therefore, high heat flux.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microclimates in Fumarole Ice Caves on Volcanic Edifices—Mount Rainier, Washington, USA

et al. 2021

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Classic ice cave literature is oriented toward bedrock caves that include perennial ice (Persoiu & Lauritzen, 2017, and references therein). In the literature on ice caves formed within glaciers, conduit development results mainly from flowing water, either through moulins or along the glacier base (Gulley et al., 2009). While air flow in ice caves and resulting ice melt has been investigated through the lens of "cold-air traps" or the "chimney effect" (Bertozzi et al., 2019; Luetscher & Jeannin, 2004; Meyer et al., 2016; Williams & McKay, 2015), these processes do not adequately describe systems that are formed entirely within ice and solely from advective air flow driven by temperature and pressure gradients at the ice-bedrock interface. Strictly speaking, this last category is glacio-thermo karst and is amplified in regions with increased geothermal gradient and, therefore, high heat flux. These high heat flux regions are often volcanic settings, glaciovolcanic caves. The speleogenesis of glaciovolcanic caves is one of thermal equilibrium. Heat flux creates melt, and on active volcanic edifices, this glacial melt percolates into the bedrock and undergoes a phase change to steam. Heat flux may be by conduction where the heated bedrock and ice are in contact (Giggenbach, 1976), but heat transfer by radiation and convection dominate where melt-formed voids that separate bedrock and ice. Discrete fumaroles of steam and volcanic gas, as well as thermal springs, enhance cave formation; the size and shape of the "fumarole ice cave" (Curtis & Kyle, 2011; Pflitch et al., 2017) is guided by the magnitude and locus of heat flux, larger cross sections form near concentrated fumarole and spring activity and localized heat transfer by convection (Kiver & Steele, 1975). The positive pressure gradient from fumarole activity causes lateral and vertical advection of steam and volcanic gas toward the glacial margins or moulins, which can enlarge and connect voids into conduits for moisture, volcanic gas, and heat transfer, such as on Mount Erebus in Antarctica (Wardell et al., 2003). Thermal equilibrium and, therefore, advection through conduits in fumarole ice caves is modulated by short-and long-term changes in volcanic activity and external climate. Certainly, volcanism may rapidly

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“…• examine microbial life of tellurian caves as Mars analogs (e.g., Boston, 2004;Boston et al, 2006;Léveillé & Datta, 2010;Röling et al, 2015;Selensky et al, 2021;Westall et al, 2015); • model environments of terrestrial and potential martian cave systems (e.g., Schörghofer et al, 2018;Titus et al, 2010;Williams & McKay, 2015;Williams et al, 2010); • improve cave detection capabilities (e.g., Cushing et al, 2015;Hong et al, 2015;Pisani & De Waele, 2021;Wynne et al, 2008Wynne et al, , 2021); • develop and expand upon life detection instrumentation and techniques (e.g., Patrick et al, 2012;Preston et al, 2014;Storrie-Lombardi et al, 2011;Uckert et al, 2020); • expand the number of cave explorer robotic platforms under development (Green & Oh, 2005;Kesner et al, 2007;Morad et al, 2019;Nesnas et al, 2012;Parness et al, 2017;Titus, Wynne, Boston, et al, 2021;Titus, Wynne, Malaska, et al, 2021); • advance robotic sensing and navigational capabilities (e.g., Agha-Mohammadi et al, 2021;Kalita et al, 2017;Kim et al, 2021;Thakker et al, 2021); and, • propose mission concepts (e.g., Kerber et al, 2019;Phillips-Lander et al, 2020;Whittaker et al, 2021;Ximenes et al, 2012) and strategies to optimize future planetary cave exploration efforts (e.g., Rummel et al, 2014;…”

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confidence: 99%