A medium-depth ice core drill

• Main Authors: Mulvaney, Robert, Bremner, Steven, Tait, Andrew, Audley, Neil
• Other Authors: Azuma, N., Fujii, Y.
• Format: Book Part
• Language: English
• Published: National Institute of Polar Research 2002
• Subjects: Electronics; Engineering and Technology; Antarctic; Arctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*; ice core; Memoirs of National Institute of Polar Research; Polar Research
• Online Access: http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/13571/; https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/13571/1/Mulvaney2.pdf

Taking as a model the Alfred Wegener Institute medium depth ice core drill, we have developed a drill capable of retrieving ice cores to depths of around 150-200m. At a total system weight of 340kg, including drill, winch, cable, tower and generator, the system is easily transported by Twin Otter aircraft. Two identical copies of the drill system were produced, and used to drill successfully at eleven locations in both the Arctic and the Antarctic. Ice conditions experienced during drilling ranged from cold Antarctic plateau sites to Arctic sites close to melting, and also blue, bubble-free ice.