An ancient lake that vanished 125,000 years ago could hold the clues to future changes in the climate and its effects on living organisms.

A British research team will attempt to drill through three kilometers of thick ice to get samples of the buried lake. The team also hopes to discover new species that could survive the extreme conditions of the Antarctic ice.

"If we can find out if or when the ice sheet retreated or collapsed, it could tell us what kind of conditions would lead to a West Antarctic retreat in the future," Mike Bentley, glacial geologist at Durham University, said in a press briefing.

Lake Ellsworth in West Antarctica has been lost to the rest of the world since it froze over nearly 125,000 years ago. Finding a specimen in the sub-glacial lake will be a feat for science. Any species that could survive the bitter cold and in complete darkness will be a unique find that could lead to a better understanding of how life can exist even under the extreme conditions.

"Finding life in a lake that could have been isolated from the rest of the biosphere for up to half a million years will tell us so much about the potential origin of and constraints for life on Earth and may provide clues to the evolution of life on other extra-terrestrial environments," said David Pearce, science coordinator at the British Antarctic Survey.

The team will also be looking for clues on the potential impact of climate change in the future. By measuring the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, scientists will be able to estimate how sea levels would rise if the ice sheet melts.

Drilling through the thick Antarctic ice presents a challenge for any research team. Previous teams have been unable to take any samples from the sub-glacial lake in the Antarctic. Special equipment that can withstand such pressure and temperature had to be designed and manufactured.

Another deep-field research mission will take place in 2012 following the preliminary dig team.