Ice core drilling on a high-elevation accumulation zone of Trambau Glacier in the Nepal Himalaya

We drilled an 81.2-m-long ice core in the accumulation area (5860 m a.s.l.) of Trambau Glacier in the Rolwaling region during October–November 2019. The drilling operation was conducted with a lightweight electro-mechanical drill system after two reconnaissance fieldworks in 2017 and 2018, during wh...

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Main Authors: Akane Tsushima, Morihiro Miyahara, Tetsuhide Yamasaki, Nao Esashi, Yota Sato, Rijan B. Kayastha, Ang J. B. Lama Sherpa, Masaki Sano, Koji Fujita
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2021-09-01
Series:Annals of Glaciology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S026030552100015X/type/journal_article
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author Akane Tsushima
Morihiro Miyahara
Tetsuhide Yamasaki
Nao Esashi
Yota Sato
Rijan B. Kayastha
Ang J. B. Lama Sherpa
Masaki Sano
Koji Fujita
author_facet Akane Tsushima
Morihiro Miyahara
Tetsuhide Yamasaki
Nao Esashi
Yota Sato
Rijan B. Kayastha
Ang J. B. Lama Sherpa
Masaki Sano
Koji Fujita
author_sort Akane Tsushima
collection DOAJ
description We drilled an 81.2-m-long ice core in the accumulation area (5860 m a.s.l.) of Trambau Glacier in the Rolwaling region during October–November 2019. The drilling operation was conducted with a lightweight electro-mechanical drill system after two reconnaissance fieldworks in 2017 and 2018, during which two shallow firn cores were drilled with a hand auger. The drill system and ice core samples were transported by helicopters at a high elevation of 6000 m a.s.l. A further challenging issue was the ice core transportation between Nepal and Japan, as no regular commercial flight was available for the frozen samples. The addition of dry ice imported from India immediately prior to leaving Nepal allowed the ice core samples to be successfully transported to a cold room in Japan, and remain in a frozen state. Stratigraphic observations during the drilling operation suggest the drill site has been affected by melting and refreezing.
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spelling doaj.art-418799267e3044768b8e35274e135f442023-03-09T12:27:43ZengCambridge University PressAnnals of Glaciology0260-30551727-56442021-09-016235335910.1017/aog.2021.15Ice core drilling on a high-elevation accumulation zone of Trambau Glacier in the Nepal HimalayaAkane Tsushima0Morihiro Miyahara1Tetsuhide Yamasaki2Nao Esashi3Yota Sato4Rijan B. Kayastha5Ang J. B. Lama Sherpa6Masaki Sano7Koji Fujita8https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3753-4981Meteorological Research Institute, Japan Meteorological Agency, Tsukuba, JapanAnori Inc., Nishinomiya, JapanAvangnaq Arctic Project Corp., Takatsuki, JapanGraduate School of Science and Engineering, Yamagata University, Yamagata, JapanGraduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya, JapanDepartment of Environmental Science and Engineering, Himalayan Cryosphere, Climate and Disaster Research Center (HiCCDRC), School of Science, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, NepalGuides for All Seasons Trek, P.O. Box 3776, Kathmandu, NepalFaculty of Human Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, JapanGraduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya, JapanWe drilled an 81.2-m-long ice core in the accumulation area (5860 m a.s.l.) of Trambau Glacier in the Rolwaling region during October–November 2019. The drilling operation was conducted with a lightweight electro-mechanical drill system after two reconnaissance fieldworks in 2017 and 2018, during which two shallow firn cores were drilled with a hand auger. The drill system and ice core samples were transported by helicopters at a high elevation of 6000 m a.s.l. A further challenging issue was the ice core transportation between Nepal and Japan, as no regular commercial flight was available for the frozen samples. The addition of dry ice imported from India immediately prior to leaving Nepal allowed the ice core samples to be successfully transported to a cold room in Japan, and remain in a frozen state. Stratigraphic observations during the drilling operation suggest the drill site has been affected by melting and refreezing.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S026030552100015X/type/journal_articleAccumulationice coremountain glaciers
spellingShingle Akane Tsushima
Morihiro Miyahara
Tetsuhide Yamasaki
Nao Esashi
Yota Sato
Rijan B. Kayastha
Ang J. B. Lama Sherpa
Masaki Sano
Koji Fujita
Ice core drilling on a high-elevation accumulation zone of Trambau Glacier in the Nepal Himalaya
Annals of Glaciology
Accumulation
ice core
mountain glaciers
title Ice core drilling on a high-elevation accumulation zone of Trambau Glacier in the Nepal Himalaya
title_full Ice core drilling on a high-elevation accumulation zone of Trambau Glacier in the Nepal Himalaya
title_fullStr Ice core drilling on a high-elevation accumulation zone of Trambau Glacier in the Nepal Himalaya
title_full_unstemmed Ice core drilling on a high-elevation accumulation zone of Trambau Glacier in the Nepal Himalaya
title_short Ice core drilling on a high-elevation accumulation zone of Trambau Glacier in the Nepal Himalaya
title_sort ice core drilling on a high elevation accumulation zone of trambau glacier in the nepal himalaya
topic Accumulation
ice core
mountain glaciers
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S026030552100015X/type/journal_article
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