Russians hit Water Driling for Antarctic lake

A radar satellite image shows smooth ice over the surface of Lake Vostok, over 3.5 kilometres down (Image: Canadian Space Agency/Radasat/NASA/Science Photo Library)

A Russian drilling team is trying to confirm that they have finally drilled into Lake Vostok, a vast subglacial lake hidden 3.5 kilometres beneath the surface of the Antarctic ice sheet.

A spokesperson for the Russian Antarctic Expedition in St Petersburg told New Scientist this morning that the drill made contact with water late last week and then automatically withdrew up the borehole, as planned.

That suggests the lake has been breached, but the team are now checking the level of water in the borehole and readings from pressure sensors to confirm that the water did come from the lake and not a pocket of water in the ice above the lake. 

Ice temperatures rise as you go deeper into the ice sheet, and approach melting point just above the lake, so the fact that the team hit liquid water doesn't necessarily mean they've reached the lake.

"For the time being we are waiting for official confirmation," said the spokesperson. An announcement is expected within the next two days.