Ice drilling on Skytrain Ice Rise and Sherman Island, Antarctica

• Main Authors: Mulvaney, R, Rix, J, Polfrey, S, Grieman, M, Martìn, C, Nehrbass-Ahles, C, Rowell, I, Tuckwell, R, Wolff, E
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2021
• Subjects: Glaciological instruments and methods; ice coring; paleoclimate; Antarctic; Berkner Island; Fletcher Promontory; Ross Island; Sherman Island; Skytrain Ice Rise; Weddell; Weddell Sea; Antarc*; Antarctica; British Antarctic Survey; ice core; Ice Sheet; James Ross Island
• Online Access: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/323163; https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.70617

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>To understand the long-term climate and glaciological evolution of the ice sheet in the region bordering the Weddell Sea, the British Antarctic Survey has undertaken a series of successful ice core projects drilling to bedrock on Berkner Island, James Ross Island and the Fletcher Promontory. A new project, WACSWAIN, seeks to increase this knowledge by further drilling to bedrock on two further ice rises in this region. In a single-season project, an ice core was recovered to bedrock at 651 m on Skytrain Ice Rise using an ice core drill in a fluid-filled borehole. In a second season, a rapid access drill was used to recover ice chips to 323 m on Sherman Island in a dry borehole, though failing to reach the bedrock which was at an estimated depth of 428 m.</jats:p> Royal Society ERC