Brief communication: New sonde to unravel the mystery of polar subglacial lakes

Abstract. The newly developed RECoverable Autonomous Sonde (RECAS) allows sampling and analysis of subglacial water while the lake remains isolated from surface. sonde was successfully tested in East Antarctica during 2021–2022 field season: it reached ice-sheet base at a depth 200.3 m, sampled basal meltwater measured its pressure, temperature, pH conductivity returned to ice average downward penetration rate 1.85 m h−1, upward 2.94 h−1. successful test self-melting, recoverable probe marks further progress towards clean exploration bodies.