Fieldwork Projects:

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  • Svalbard, Arctic Sweden, Iceland and Greenland (2013+2014)
  • for these two field seasons we worked on two main projects:
    • (a) to sample and measure various parameters on 21 different glaciers across the Arctic and evaluate various (bio)geochemical and microbial ecological aspects linked to snow and ice algae biosignatures in Arctic glacial and snow environments; these data are for Steffi Lutz's PhD thesis; see her first paper from the 2012 fieldwork and associated press release here
    • (b) to sample chronosequences in Svalbard, Arctic Sweden and Greenland for the NERC funded Arctic Soils project and Josh Blacker's PhD thesis
    • links to blogs related to these field seasons can be found on my wordpress blogsite
  • Greenland and Iceland (2012- ...): to work in the preservation and adaptations of snow algae biosignatures in Arctic glacial and snow environments;
    • July 4th to July 26th 2012 - Field work on Mittivakkat Glacier close to Sermilik Station in SE-Greenland and between July 26th to August 8th we will be surveying various glaciers in Iceland for bioloads;
  • Spitzbergen (2003-2010): work in the high Arctic as part of an international team of scientists, engineers and artists carrying out research on various topics and testing payload instruments for future Mars missions, including instruments that are currently flying on board NASA’s MSL mission o rthose that are scheduled to fly on ESA’s ExoMars mission. This work was all part of the Arctic Mars Analogue Svalbard Expeditions (AMASE)  
  • topic of research include among others: (a) carbonate sinter formation in an active low temperature spring system; (b) biosignatures in volcanic rocks (c) preservation of biosignatures in fossil carbonate sinters; (d) geochemical and biochemical signatures and adaptation of extremophile snow algae to icy environments;  (e) iron geochemistry in icebergs and glaciers (f) planetary protection protocols for decontamination of flight hardware and sampling devices;

AMASE 2010 blog

        • publications so far:   (see full list and PDF links in main Publications page)
  1. Ø. Hammer, B. Jamtveit, L. G. Benning and D. K. Dysthe (2005) Evolution of fluid chemistry during travertine formation in the Troll thermal springs, Svalbard, Norway. Geofluids 5, 140–150
  2. Jorge Villar, Susana E., Edwards, Howell G. M. and Benning, Liane G. (2006) Raman spectroscopic and scanning electron microscopic analysis of a novel biological colonisation of volcanic rocks. Icarus, 184/1: 158-169
  3. Jorge Villar, S., Benning L. G. and H. H. M. Edwards and AMASE team (2007) Raman and SEM Analysis of a Biocolonised Hot Spring Travertine Terrace in Svalbard, Norway. Geochemical Transactions Vol 8 issue 8     doi:10.1186/1467-4866-8-8
  4. Marek Stibal, Martyn Tranter, Jon Telling and Liane G. Benning (2008) Speciation, phase association and potential bioavailability of phosphorus on a Svalbard glacier. Biogeochemistry 90: 1-13.    doi:10.1007/s10533-008-9226-3
  5. Marek Stibal, Martyn Tranter, Liane G. Benning, Josef Řehák (2008) Microbial primary production on an Arctic glacier is insignificant in comparison to allochthonous organic carbon input.  Environmental Microbiology 10/8 . 2172 - 2178    doi:10.1111/j.1462-2920.2008.01620.x
  6. Raiswell, R., Benning, L. G , L.Davidson and M.Tranter (2008) Nanoparticulate Bioavailable Iron Minerals in Icebergs and Glaciers.Mineralogical Magazine   72/1 p. 345-348   doi:10.1180/minmag.2008.072.1.345
  7. R. Raiswell, L.G. Benning, L.Davidson, M.Tranter  and S. Tulaczyk (2009) Schwertmannite in Wet, Acid and Oxic Microenvironments beneath Polar and Polythermal Glaciers.  Geology 37/5: 431–434;    doi: 10.1130/G25350A.1;
  8. Jennifer Eigenbrode, Liane G. Benning, Jake Maule, Norm Wainwright, Andrew Steele, Hans E. F. Amundsen, and AMASE 2005 and 2006 teams (2009) A field-based cleaning protocol for sampling devices used in life-detection studies. Astrobiology, 9/4: 455-465    doi:10.1089/ast.2008.0275 
    see also press release and the AMASE 2005-2009 Cliffbot rover as the Astrobiology July issue Journal cover photo
  9. P. J. Younse, A. Stroupe, T. Huntsberger, M. Garrett, J. L. Eigenbrode, L. G. Benning, M. L. Fogel and AMASE 2008 team (2009) Sample Acquisition and Caching using Detachable Scoops for Mars Sample Return.  (Aerospace conference IEEE, 2009: 1-12;    doi:10.1109/AERO.2009.4839312.
  10. Susana E. Jorge Villar, Howell, G.M. Edwards, Liane G. Benning and AMASE 2004 team (2011) Raman spectroscopic analyses of arctic nodules: relevance to the astrobiological exploration of Mars Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 401(9): 2927-2933  doi: 10.1007/s00216-011-5385-5 
              • publications linked to this work:  
    1. Dominique J. Tobler and Liane G. Benning (2011) The microbial diversity in Icelandic hot springs: temperature, salinity, pH and sinter growth rate effects.  Extremophiles 15/4: 473-485    doi: 10.1007/s00792-011-0378-z      
    2. Dominique J. Tobler, Andri Stefánsson, and Liane G. Benning (2008) In-situ grown silica sinters in Icelandic geothermal areas. Geobiology: 6, 481–502    doi:10.1111/j.1472-4669.2008.00179.x
    3. Benning L. G. and Tobler J. D. (2008) The metagenomics of biosilicification: causes and effects. Mineralogical Magazine  72/1 p. 221-225      doi: 10.1180/minmag.2008.072.1.221
    4. Tobler D. J., Benning L. G. and Knapp J.(2008) The size and polydispersity of silica nanoparticles under simulated hot spring conditions.Mineralogical Magazine   72/1 p. 287-290   doi:10.1180/minmag.2008.072.1.278
  • Pyrenees (2006): Pico d'Aneto: Biosignatures in extreme glacial environments: a biochemical and spectroscopic approach; a UK Royal Society funded project; in collaboration with Susana Jorge Villar, University of Burgos
  • New Zealand: 2000-2006: determination of the silicification processes connected to biomineralization in active sinter forming environments (Rotokawa Ngata Mariki, Ohaaki-Broadlands) in the North Island of New Zealand; collaborative work with B. W. Mountain at The Wairakey Research Laboratory, Taupo New Zealand and Rich Pancost, at the Chemistry Department, University of Bristol
  •  publications linked to this work:  
    1. Pancost, R. D., Pressley, S., Coleman, J. M., Talbot, H. M., Kelly, S. P., Farrimond, P., Schouten, S., Benning, L. G. & Mountain, B. W. (2006) Composition and implications of diverse lipids in New Zealand Geothermal sinters. Geobiology 4 (2), 71-92.
    2. Richard D. Pancost, Sarah Pressley, Joanna M. Coleman, Liane G. Benning and B. W. Mountain (2005) Lipid biomolecules in silica sinters: indicators of microbial biodiversity. Environmental Microbiology 7(1), 66–77
  • Kamchatka (1995): Uzon Caldera: modern arsenic sulphide mineralisation in an active geothermal system; trace metal partitioning and relation to biominaralization; collaborative work with Bruce W. Mountain at The Wairakei Research Laboratory, Taupo New Zealand.