Matís participates in research on the ecosystem of the reservoir in Skaftárkötlar and oversees the sampling of its microbial flora. It is hoped that unknown species of micro-organisms (bacteria) can be found that can be further studied and used in biotechnology. The ice cap over the lagoon is about 300 meters thick and the lagoon about 100 meters deep and requires a special smelting drill to get through the ice cap.
For the past two summers, extensive research has been carried out in the Skaftár boilers at Vatnajökull. This is a collaborative project of several domestic and foreign companies and institutions, including Matís, the National Energy Authority, the Icelandic Meteorological Office, the Institute of Earth Sciences, the University of Hawaii and Montana State University, where Þorsteinn Þorsteinsson at the National Energy Authority has supervised the project.
Last year, measurements were made and drilled into the western Skaftár boiler and the important experience of that trip was used this year when drilling in the eastern boiler. The research expedition took place from 1 to 9 June and measurements were made on the eastern Skaftár boiler and Árni Rafn Rúnarsson, an employee of Matís microbial research, took part in the expedition and supervised sampling for research on the microbial flora of the reservoir. The expedition was extremely successful as the improved Vatnamælingar (OS) smelting drill was used and drilled into the boiler in two places, with good results.
300 meter thick ice cave
Íshellan reyndist vera um 300 metra þykk og lónið í katlinum undir íshellunni mældist um 100 metra djúpt. Að auki var nýr sýnataki notaður og sýni tekin á mismunandi dýpi úr katlinum fyrir örveru- og chemical measurements. Þar sem lónið er undir íshellu jökulsins er um er að ræða einstakar aðstæður þar sem slíkt vatn undir jökli er afar sjaldgæft og þar að finna mjög einangrað og vel varðveitt vistkerfi.
The intention is to make the most of molecular molecular methods for the analysis of the microbial flora of the boiler, and it is even to be expected that there will be previously unknown types of microorganisms that can be further studied and used in biotechnology.
What are microorganisms. See more at Science website of the University of Iceland.
