Alkaline lakes are incredibly dynamic, unique, and fascinating biogeo-chemical environments that have remained distinctive features of Earth’s evolving surface over much of its history. Understanding these evaporative surface waters, their exceptionally productive ecosystems, and their rare sedimentary deposits requires an inherently interdisciplinary approach at the intersection of hydrology, geology, and biology. The discipline-spanning articles in this issue evaluate the diverse characteristics that make these dry, salty, and habitable environments so valuable in unraveling the history and evolution of Earth’s surface, and in following the arc of habitability on ancient Mars. Here, in this introductory article, we summarize the characteristics and importance of alkaline lakes with the hope of attracting you, too, to join in our fascination with them.
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Research Article|
February 01, 2023
Dry, Salty, and Habitable: The Science of Alkaline Lakes
Benjamin M. Tutolo;
Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
E-mail: benjamin.tutolo@ucalgary.ca
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Nicholas J. Tosca
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EQ, United Kingdom
E-mail: njt41@cam.ac.uk
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Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
E-mail: benjamin.tutolo@ucalgary.ca
E-mail: njt41@cam.ac.uk
Publisher: Mineralogical Society of America
First Online:
08 May 2023
Online ISSN: 1811-5217
Print ISSN: 1811-5209
Copyright © 2023 by the Mineralogical Society of America
Mineralogical Society of America
Elements (2023) 19 (1): 10–14.
Article history
First Online:
08 May 2023
Citation
Benjamin M. Tutolo, Nicholas J. Tosca; Dry, Salty, and Habitable: The Science of Alkaline Lakes. Elements 2023;; 19 (1): 10–14. doi: https://doi.org/10.2138/gselements.19.1.10
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