Upper Boundary of the Biosphere
Full title: Upper Boundary of the Biosphere
Little
is known about the populations inhabiting the upper reaches of Earth's
atmosphere. This Topical Team will develop a strategy for determining
the vertical profile of biota in our atmosphere. It will outline a
program based on aerosol sampling by high-flying airplanes, balloons,
sounding rockets, satellites, and the International Space Station; as
well as studies in ground-based simulation facilities. This work will
contribute to: 1) understand how life adapts to extreme environments;
2) better establish the distribution of life in planets and the
possibility of organisms to escape their parent body; and 3) map the
aerial migration of microbes around the globe, a subject of health and
ecological interest.
Topical Team members:
H.-C. Flemming (D),
C. S. Cockell (UK),
G. Horneck (D),
A. Leis (D),
R. Niessner (D),
G. Reitz (D),
E. Stackebrandt (D)