Extraterrestrial cryobiospheres: permafrost model
Abstract
The viable organisms in the Earth's Cryosphere represent a significant part of Biosphere, the Cryobiosphere. The long-term subzero temperature regime in the subsurface layers make it stable/balanced natural environments and should be regarded not as the extreme or limiting but rather as a stabilizing factor supporting the viability of microorganisms adapted to these conditions. The ice/permafrost environment provides life support and ensures the formation of microbialcommunitiesthatrealizeunknownpossibilitiesof physiological/biochemical adaptation to prolonged cold and remain virtually stable for million of years. The most inhabited part of terrestrial Cryobiosphere is permafrost.
- Publication:
-
34th COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- 2002
- Bibcode:
- 2002cosp...34E1010G