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Project Progress

The persistence of ice in terrestrial microclimates is investigated at several field locations, in craters near the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii, and in ice caves on Mauna Loa, Hawaii. Although the summit of Mauna Kea is exceptionally dry, sporadic permafrost exists in cinder cones near the summit. Additionally, ice caves can be found on the flanks of Mauna Loa.

Theoretical models of the thermal environment have been developed to better understand microclimatic effects and predict where on Mauna Kea permafrost may be found. This modeling includes threedimensional illumination calculations of direct and reflected sunlight, using azimuth rays and a computationally efficient method for multiple reflections, and the radiative effect of “cold air lakes”. Based on these model calculations, patches of regolith-covered permafrost are pre-dicted to exist in several heretofore unexplored craters. In the Mauna Loa ice caves, the crucial mi-croclimatic effect is the sinking of cold air into a lave tube with a single downward sloped-entrance.

Field work will begin in November. We will survey the ice caves and craters, emplace data log-gers, and assess the astrobiological potential of the field sites.