Ladakh: diverse, high-altitude extreme environments for off-earth analogue and astrobiology research

• Published in: International journal of astrobiology Vol. 19; no. 1; pp. 78 - 98
• Main Authors: Pandey, Siddharth, Clarke, Jonathan, Nema, Preeti, Bonaccorsi, Rosalba, Som, Sanjoy, Sharma, Mukund, Phartiyal, Binita, Rajamani, Sudha, Mogul, Rakesh, Martin-Torres, Javier, Vaishampayan, Parag, Blank, Jennifer, Steller, Luke, Srivastava, Anushree, Singh, Randheer, McGuirk, Savannah, Zorzano, María-Paz, Güttler, Johannes Milan, Mendaza, Teresa, Soria-Salinas, Alvaro, Ahmad, Shamim, Ansari, Arif, Singh, Veeru Kant, Mungi, Chaitanya, Bapat, Niraja
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Cambridge University Press 01.02.2020
• Subjects: Altitude; analogue; Astrobiology; Atmosfärsvetenskap; Atmospheric science; Biomarkers; Brines; Diurnal; Dunes; Earth analogs; Extreme environments; Geobiology; Habitability; High altitude; High-altitude environments; high-elevation; Hot springs; Hydrologic cycle; Hydrological cycle; India; Irradiance; Ladakh; Landforms; Mars missions; Meltwater; Multiship expeditions; New technology; Permafrost; Regolith; Saline environments; Salt lakes; Salts; Sea level; Sediments; Valleys; Water reservoirs; Water springs; India
• ISSN: 1473-5504; 1475-3006; 1475-3006
• DOI: 10.1017/S1473550419000119

Abstract This paper highlights unique sites in Ladakh, India, investigated during our 2016 multidisciplinary pathfinding expedition to the region. We summarize our scientific findings and the site's potential to support science exploration, testing of new technologies and science protocols within the framework of astrobiology research. Ladakh has several accessible, diverse, pristine and extreme environments at very high altitudes (3000–5700 m above sea level). These sites include glacial passes, sand dunes, hot springs and saline lake shorelines with periglacial features. We report geological observations and environmental characteristics (of astrobiological significance) along with the development of regolith-landform maps for cold high passes. The effects of the diurnal water cycle on salt deliquescence were studied using the ExoMars Mission instrument mockup: HabitAbility: Brines, Irradiance and Temperature (HABIT). It recorded the existence of an interaction between the diurnal water cycle in the atmosphere and salts in the soil (which can serve as habitable liquid water reservoirs). Life detection assays were also tested to establish the best protocols for biomass measurements in brines, periglacial ice-mud and permafrost melt water environments in the Tso-Kar region. This campaign helped confirm the relevance of clays and brines as interest targets of research on Mars for biomarker preservation and life detection.