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

Siddharth Pandey*, Jonathan Clarke, Preeti Nema, Rosalba Bonaccorsi, Sanjoy Som, Mukund Sharma, Binita Phartiyal, Sudha Rajamani, Rakesh Mogul, Javier Martin-Torres, Parag Vaishampayan, Jennifer Blank, Luke Steller, Anushree Srivastava, Randheer Singh, Savannah McGuirk, María-Paz Zorzano, Johannes Milan Güttler, Teresa Mendaza, Alvaro Soria-SalinasShamim Ahmad, Arif Ansari, Veeru Kant Singh, Chaitanya Mungi, Niraja Bapat

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

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.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)78-98
Number of pages21
JournalInternational Journal of Astrobiology
Volume19
Issue number1
Early online date13 Jun 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2020

Bibliographical note

Acknowledgements. The team would like to express its gratitude to Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Department of Science and Technology, Office of Chief Wildlife Warden of Ladakh, Government of India for helping arrange the requisite clearances and permits for the conducted work. Project mentoring and guidance provided by Spaceward Bound members at NASA Ames Research Center. Financial and logistics support provided by Tata Motors Ltd, Inspired Journeys Co, Pearl Travels Ltd and National Geographic Traveller India. Website and IT support provided by the Blue Marble Space Institute of Science. Audio-video documentation support provided by Astroproject India and The Highroad Co.

Keywords

  • analogue
  • astrobiology
  • high-elevation
  • hot-springs
  • India
  • Ladakh
  • permafrost
  • CLAY-MINERALS
  • ORGANIC-MATTER
  • HIMALAYA
  • ICE
  • LAKE
  • PRESERVATION
  • MARS
  • CHEMISTRY
  • TSO KAR
  • PUGA

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