Optimal site selection for a high-resolution ice core record in East Antarctica
Ice cores provide some of the best-dated and most comprehensive proxy records, as they yield a vast and growing array of proxy indicators. Selecting a site for ice core drilling is nonetheless challenging, as the assessment of potential new sites needs to consider a variety of factors. Here, we demo...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2016-03-01
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| Series: | Climate of the Past |
| Online Access: | http://www.clim-past.net/12/595/2016/cp-12-595-2016.pdf |
| _version_ | 1819126466615443456 |
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| author | T. R. Vance J. L. Roberts A. D. Moy M. A. J. Curran C. R. Tozer A. J. E. Gallant N. J. Abram T. D. van Ommen D. A. Young C. Grima D. D. Blankenship M. J. Siegert |
| author_facet | T. R. Vance J. L. Roberts A. D. Moy M. A. J. Curran C. R. Tozer A. J. E. Gallant N. J. Abram T. D. van Ommen D. A. Young C. Grima D. D. Blankenship M. J. Siegert |
| author_sort | T. R. Vance |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ice cores provide some of the best-dated and most comprehensive
proxy records, as they yield a vast and growing array of proxy indicators.
Selecting a site for ice core drilling is nonetheless challenging,
as the assessment of potential new sites needs to
consider a variety of factors. Here, we demonstrate a systematic approach
to site selection for a new East Antarctic high-resolution ice core
record. Specifically, seven criteria are considered: (1) 2000-year-old
ice at 300 m depth; (2) above 1000 m elevation; (3) a minimum
accumulation rate of 250 mm years<sup>−1</sup> IE (ice equivalent); (4) minimal surface
reworking to preserve the deposited climate signal; (5) a site with
minimal displacement or elevation change in ice at 300 m depth;
(6) a strong teleconnection to midlatitude climate; and (7) an appropriately
complementary relationship to the existing Law Dome record (a high-resolution record in East Antarctica). Once assessment of these physical
characteristics identified promising regions, logistical considerations
(for site access and ice core retrieval) were briefly considered. We use
Antarctic surface mass balance syntheses, along with ground-truthing of satellite data by airborne radar surveys
to produce all-of-Antarctica maps of surface roughness, age
at specified depth, elevation and displacement change, and surface air
temperature correlations to pinpoint promising locations. We also use
the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast ERA 20th
Century reanalysis (ERA-20C) to ensure that a site complementary to
the Law Dome record is selected. We find three promising sites in the
Indian Ocean sector of East Antarctica in the coastal zone from Enderby
Land to the Ingrid Christensen Coast (50–100° E). Although
we focus on East Antarctica for a new ice core site, the methodology
is more generally applicable, and we include key parameters for all of
Antarctica which may be useful for ice core site selection elsewhere and/or for
other purposes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T07:56:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-335c40e67c25434eb3958f2907420df8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1814-9324 1814-9332 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T07:56:29Z |
| publishDate | 2016-03-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Climate of the Past |
| spelling | doaj.art-335c40e67c25434eb3958f2907420df82022-12-21T18:33:21ZengCopernicus PublicationsClimate of the Past1814-93241814-93322016-03-0112359561010.5194/cp-12-595-2016Optimal site selection for a high-resolution ice core record in East AntarcticaT. R. Vance0J. L. Roberts1A. D. Moy2M. A. J. Curran3C. R. Tozer4A. J. E. Gallant5N. J. Abram6T. D. van Ommen7D. A. Young8C. Grima9D. D. Blankenship10M. J. Siegert11Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 80, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, AustraliaDepartment of the Environment, Australian Antarctic Division, Hobart, Tasmania 7050, AustraliaDepartment of the Environment, Australian Antarctic Division, Hobart, Tasmania 7050, AustraliaDepartment of the Environment, Australian Antarctic Division, Hobart, Tasmania 7050, AustraliaAntarctic Climate & Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 80, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, AustraliaSchool of Earth Atmosphere and Environment, Monash University, Victoria 2904, AustraliaResearch School of Earth Sciences, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601 AustraliaDepartment of the Environment, Australian Antarctic Division, Hobart, Tasmania 7050, AustraliaJackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USAJackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USAJackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USAGrantham Institute and Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UKIce cores provide some of the best-dated and most comprehensive proxy records, as they yield a vast and growing array of proxy indicators. Selecting a site for ice core drilling is nonetheless challenging, as the assessment of potential new sites needs to consider a variety of factors. Here, we demonstrate a systematic approach to site selection for a new East Antarctic high-resolution ice core record. Specifically, seven criteria are considered: (1) 2000-year-old ice at 300 m depth; (2) above 1000 m elevation; (3) a minimum accumulation rate of 250 mm years<sup>−1</sup> IE (ice equivalent); (4) minimal surface reworking to preserve the deposited climate signal; (5) a site with minimal displacement or elevation change in ice at 300 m depth; (6) a strong teleconnection to midlatitude climate; and (7) an appropriately complementary relationship to the existing Law Dome record (a high-resolution record in East Antarctica). Once assessment of these physical characteristics identified promising regions, logistical considerations (for site access and ice core retrieval) were briefly considered. We use Antarctic surface mass balance syntheses, along with ground-truthing of satellite data by airborne radar surveys to produce all-of-Antarctica maps of surface roughness, age at specified depth, elevation and displacement change, and surface air temperature correlations to pinpoint promising locations. We also use the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast ERA 20th Century reanalysis (ERA-20C) to ensure that a site complementary to the Law Dome record is selected. We find three promising sites in the Indian Ocean sector of East Antarctica in the coastal zone from Enderby Land to the Ingrid Christensen Coast (50–100° E). Although we focus on East Antarctica for a new ice core site, the methodology is more generally applicable, and we include key parameters for all of Antarctica which may be useful for ice core site selection elsewhere and/or for other purposes.http://www.clim-past.net/12/595/2016/cp-12-595-2016.pdf |
| spellingShingle | T. R. Vance J. L. Roberts A. D. Moy M. A. J. Curran C. R. Tozer A. J. E. Gallant N. J. Abram T. D. van Ommen D. A. Young C. Grima D. D. Blankenship M. J. Siegert Optimal site selection for a high-resolution ice core record in East Antarctica Climate of the Past |
| title | Optimal site selection for a high-resolution ice core record in East Antarctica |
| title_full | Optimal site selection for a high-resolution ice core record in East Antarctica |
| title_fullStr | Optimal site selection for a high-resolution ice core record in East Antarctica |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimal site selection for a high-resolution ice core record in East Antarctica |
| title_short | Optimal site selection for a high-resolution ice core record in East Antarctica |
| title_sort | optimal site selection for a high resolution ice core record in east antarctica |
| url | http://www.clim-past.net/12/595/2016/cp-12-595-2016.pdf |
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