Hans Amundsen (Physics of Geological Processes, UiO): "Searching for Life on Svalbard and Mars"

The Bockfjord Volcanic Complex (BVC) on NW Spitsbergen have carbonate minerals identical to those in the Martian meteorite ALH84001 and represent a unique opportunity to examine water-rock interaction and possible microbial activity in a Mars analogue environment. The "Arctic Mars Analog Svalbard Expedition" (AMASE) project is a collaboration between PGP, CIW, NASA-JPL and other institutions and studies the interplay between water, rocks and microbes in BVC lavas and hot springs. AMASE also develops strategies and bio-sensing instruments aimed at future "Search for Life" missions to Mars. Field work involves on-site deployment of bio-seonsor technology such as UV laser fluorescence techniques, DNA analysis and protein microarrays. AMASE 2004 performed the first ever successful test of a suite of instruments capable of detecting a single microbe on Mars. Preliminary results document the presence of microbial activity in a number of unexpected settings in BVC. Rock- and ice dwelling microbial communities may represent life-forms that could exist even under Martian conditions, though abundant abiogenic organic compounds illustrate the challenge in defining criteria for life detection.