We are studying life on some of the highest elevation volcanoes on Earth.  These volcanoes (Llullaillaco and Socompa) are very remote and lie along the Chile-Argentina border.  We are collaborating with Dr. Maria Farias' lab in Tucumán Argentina and Dr. Cristina Dorador's lab at the University of Antofagasta, Chile.  Our main goal is to understand the distribution and functioning of life in the extreme "soils"  that lie above 6000 m (20,000 ft) in elevation.  These sites are extremely dry and experience some of the most extreme diurnal temperature fluctuations yet measured on Earth.  

​Volcán Socompa (6051 m) as viewed from ghost town Monturaqui, Chile (2016).

​Edible cyanobacteria, Nostoc commune, found growing in the stream at Zorritas acclimation camp on the way to Llullaillaco.  Jack Darcy's hand for scale.  photo, S.K. Schmidt 2016.

​Jack using the tailgate of the truck to do lab work as Graham Zimmerman films him.  At basecamp, Volcán Llullaillaco, Chile (2016).

Pablo Arán, Lara Vimercati and Jack Darcy showing off free MoBio hoodies at basecamp, Volcán Llullaillaco (2016).  

​Backside of the above - Jack Darcy, Lara Vimercati and Pablo Arán, showing off free MoBio hoodies at basecamp, Volcán Llullaillaco (2016).  Preston Sowell and Dorota Porazinska look on.  

Graham Zimmerman filming Dorota and Lara doing field work, Volcán Llullaillaco (2016)

Pablo sampling sites for his thesis project, Volcán Llullaillaco (March 2016)

​Looking back at high camp (small yellow tents in middle of picture) from 5800 m  (2009)

​Standing in penitente field on Socompa at 5800 m looking  30 km south towards Volcán Llullaillaco (white peak to the right) (2009)

​Fumarole at 5800 m, Thomas Harris (front) and Pablo Macias (back)  (2009).  Thomas was measuring the spectral reflectance properties of these rare microbial mats with the hope that these data can be used in remote sensing efforts to locate more of these ecosystems on other volcanoes.

​Socompa summit (6050 m) looking south towards Llullaillaco (white peak, middle left)

​Volcán Llullaillaco (6731 m) as viewed from the Puna de Atacama, Chile (2016)

High camp (5800 m) on Argentina side of Volcán  Llullaillaco (2009)

​Maria Farias (left) and Cristian Vitry at high camp (2009)

Sunset over the Atacama Desert, March 15, 2016.  Photo taken from Llullaillaco basecamp (note hood of truck in foreground).  photo S.K. Schmidt