Lake Fryxell

Lake Fryxell is {{convert|20|m|ft}} deep, so that the deepest portion of the lake is below sea level. The lake is dammed by Canada Glacier, so that it has no natural outflow. It is covered with about {{convert|4.5|m|ft}} of ice, but during the summer months, the ice can clear along the shoreline. There are a few small islands as well as several shallow areas.{{cite journal |last=Henderson |first=R. A. |title=An Ablation Rate for Lake Fryxell, Victoria Land, Antarctica |journal=Journal of Glaciology |volume=6 |issue=43 |pages=129–133 |date=1966 |doi=10.1017/S0022143000019110 |bibcode=1966JGlac...6..129H |doi-access=free }}

The average annual ablation is between {{convert|30|cm|in}} and {{convert|40|cm|in}}, which is significantly lower when compared to other nearby frozen water bodies, such as the waters adjacent to Ross Island.{{cite journal|title=An Ablation Rate for Lake Fryxell, Victoria Land, Antarctica |journal=Journal of Glaciology |volume=6 |issue=43 |pages=129–133 |doi=10.3189/S0022143000019110 |year=1966 |last1=Henderson |first1=R. A. |last2=Prebble |first2=W. M. |last3=Hoare |first3=R. A. |last4=Popplewell |first4=K. B. |last5=House |first5=D. A. |last6=Wilson |first6=A. T. |doi-access=free }}

The watershed contains thirteen streams flowing into the lake, forming a watershed that has an area roughly {{convert|230|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} in size. Where a few of the streams enter the lake there are well-developed deltas.{{cite web|url=http://huey.colorado.edu/diatoms/waterbodies/waterbody_summary.php?pageNum_rs_waterbodies=25&totalRows_rs_waterbodies=49&waterbody_ID=14 |title=Waterbody Summary: Antarctic Freshwater Diatoms |accessdate=17 November 2017}} The streams flow for about 4–12 weeks out of the year. Nearly half of the water flowing into the lake comes from Canada, Lost Seal, and Von Guerard streams.

Lake Fryxell is located within the McMurdo Dry Valleys, which experience an exceptionally dry climate partially due to katabatic winds descending from the nearby mountains. These winds can exceed {{convert|320|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} under certain conditions and can raise the temperature, melting snow and evaporating water.{{cite journal |last=Bockheim |first=J. G. |title=Landform and Soil Development in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica: A Regional Synthesis |journal=Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research |volume=34 |issue= 3 |pages=308–317 |date=2002 |doi=10.2307/1552489 |jstor=1552489|doi-access=free }}{{cite book |first1=John |last1=Lloyd |authorlink1=John Lloyd (writer) |first2=John |last2=Mitchinson |authorlink2=John Mitchinson (researcher) |title=The Book of General Ignorance |publisher=Faber & Faber |date=2006|title-link=The Book of General Ignorance }} Average precipitation in the area surrounding the valley is equivalent to about {{convert|3|cm|in|abbr=on}} of rain a year and a mean annual temperature of {{convert|-20|C|F}} with summer temperatures getting above freezing.{{cite journal|title=Hydrological Controls on Ecosystem Dynamics in Lake Fryxell, Antarctica | doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0159038 |pmid = 27441705| pmc=4956314 |volume=11 |issue=7 |year=2016 |journal=PLOS ONE |page=e0159038 | last1 = Herbei | first1 = Radu | last2 = Rytel | first2 = Alexander L. | last3 = Lyons | first3 = W. Berry | last4 = McKnight | first4 = Diane M. | last5 = Jaros | first5 = Christopher | last6 = Gooseff | first6 = Michael N. | last7 = Priscu | first7 = John C.| bibcode=2016PLoSO..1159038H | doi-access=free }}

{{Weather box |location = Lake Fryxell, Antarctica, 1961–1990 normal

| single line = Y

| Jan mean C = -2.8

| Feb mean C = -8.8

| Mar mean C = -17.3

| Apr mean C = -20.9

| May mean C = -23.3

| Jun mean C = -22.9

| Jul mean C = -25.8

| Aug mean C = -27.4

| Sep mean C = -25.7

| Oct mean C = -19.4

| Nov mean C = -9.7

| Dec mean C = -3.5

| year mean C = -17.3

| unit precipitation days = 1mm

| Jan precipitation days = 2

| Feb precipitation days = 4

| Mar precipitation days = 3

| Apr precipitation days = 4

| May precipitation days = 5

| Jun precipitation days = 5

| Jul precipitation days = 4

| Aug precipitation days = 4

| Sep precipitation days = 3

| Oct precipitation days = 3

| Nov precipitation days = 2

| Dec precipitation days = 2

| source 1 = Norwegian Meteorological Institute{{cite web

| url = https://www.yr.no/place/Antarctica/Other/Fryxell,_Lake/statistics.html

| title = Weather statistics for Fryxell, Lake (Antarctica)

| publisher = Norwegian Meteorological Institute

| accessdate = 18 November 2017

| archive-date = 15 November 2018

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181115030945/https://www.yr.no/place/Antarctica/Other/Fryxell,_Lake/statistics.html

| url-status = dead

}}}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Lake Fryxell Camp

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| settlement_type = Camp

| image_skyline = Lake Fryxell Camp.jpg

| imagesize = 270

| image_caption = One of the buildings located at the nearby camp.

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| pushpin_map_alt = Location of Lake Fryxell Camp in Antarctica

| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Lake Fryxell Camp in Antarctica

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| subdivision_type1 = Location in Antarctica

| subdivision_name1 = Lake Fryxell
Taylor Valley
Antarctica

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Mapped by the British Antarctic Expedition under Robert Falcon Scott, 1910–13, the lake was visited by Professor T.L. Péwé during Operation Deep Freeze, 1957–58, who named it for Dr. Fritiof M. Fryxell, glacial geologist of Augustana College, Illinois.

Lake Fryxell is a focus of scientific research and contains a semi-permanent camp containing four labs and two other buildings. Electricity is generated at the camp using solar panels and a wind turbine. The four labs are used for experimenting with radioactive materials, electronics, chemicals and other materials. When staying at the camp, researchers sleep in tents, some of which are the same style as those used in some Antarctic expeditions in the early 20th century. There is internet and phone access at the camp.{{cite web|url=https://www.polartrec.com/expeditions/dissolved-organic-matter-in-antarctica/journals/2009-12-06 |title=6 December 2009 A quick tour of Lake Fryxell Camp |accessdate=17 November 2017|date=2009-12-06 }}

Research activities largely deal with the lake itself and can include scientists diving into the water. The camp has existed since at least 1984.{{cite web|url=http://mcmurdohistory.lternet.edu/lake-fryxell-camp |title=Lake Fryxell Camp |accessdate=17 November 2017}}

There are multiple forms of algae within the lake, including a sizable population of sulfate-reducing bacteria. Some samples of these bacteria live in very specific areas, such as specific water depths or locations causing them to experience differing physiochemical conditions.{{cite journal|title=Diversity and distribution of sulfate-reducing bacteria in permanently frozen Lake Fryxell, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. | pmid=16204557 | doi=10.1128/AEM.71.10.6353-6359.2005 | volume=71 | issue=10 | pmc=1265979 | year=2005 | journal=Appl Environ Microbiol | pages=6353–9 | last1 = Karr | first1 = EA | last2 = Sattley | first2 = WM | last3 = Rice | first3 = MR | last4 = Jung | first4 = DO | last5 = Madigan | first5 = MT | last6 = Achenbach | first6 = LA| bibcode=2005ApEnM..71.6353K }} There are also a few archaea living in the anoxic zone, that contribute to the methane pockets under 12 m below the surface.{{Cite journal|last1=Karr|first1=Elizabeth A.|last2=Ng|first2=Joshua M.|last3=Belchik|first3=Sara M.|last4=Sattley|first4=W. Matthew|last5=Madigan|first5=Michael T.|last6=Achenbach|first6=Laurie A.|date=2006-02-01|title=Biodiversity of Methanogenic and Other Archaea in the Permanently Frozen Lake Fryxell, Antarctica|journal=Applied and Environmental Microbiology|volume=72|issue=2|pages=1663–1666|doi=10.1128/AEM.72.2.1663-1666.2006|pmc=1392947|pmid=16461723|bibcode=2006ApEnM..72.1663K}}

There is a lack of oxygen within Lake Fryxell, which is unique when compared to other lakes in the region because the euphotic zone only extends to {{convert|9|m|ft}} below the lake surface.{{cite journal |last=Lawrence |first=M. J. F. |title=Water column and sediment characteristics of Lake Fryxell, Taylor Valley, Antarctica |journal=New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics |volume=28 |issue=3 |pages=543–552 |date=1985 |doi=10.1080/00288306.1985.10421206|doi-access=free }} This creates an environment similar to the planet about 2.4 billion years ago. Within anoxic areas, scientists have found microbial mats that create small pockets saturated with oxygen.{{cite web|url=https://www.livescience.com/52075-oxygen-oasis-discovered-in-antarctic-lake.html |title=Oxygen Oasis Discovered in Antarctic Lake |website=Live Science |date=3 September 2015 |accessdate=17 November 2017}}{{Cite journal|last1=Krusor|first1=M|last2=Mackey|first2=T. J|last3=Hawes|first3=I|last4=Jungblut|first4=A. D|last5=Eisen|first5=J|last6=Sumner|first6=D. Y|date=December 2016|title=Ecosystem Dynamics of the Microbial Mats in Lake Fryxell, Antarctica|url=https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2016AGUFM.B11F0517K/abstract|journal=American Geophysical Union|volume=2016|bibcode=2016AGUFM.B11F0517K|via=ADS}}

• Andrews Creek
• Coral Ridge
• List of Antarctic field camps
• Lake Washburn (Antarctica)

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{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Lake Fryxell}}

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{{Portal bar|Geography}}

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Category:Lakes of Victoria Land

Category:Meromictic lakes

Category:Saline lakes of Antarctica

Category:Endorheic lakes of Antarctica

Category:McMurdo Dry Valleys