scholarly journals Dating firn cores by vertical strain measurements

2002 ◽  
Vol 48 (162) ◽  
pp. 401-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L. Hawley ◽  
Edwin D. Waddington ◽  
David L. Morse ◽  
Nelia W. Dunbar ◽  
Gregory A. Zielinski
Keyword(s):  
Ice Core ◽  
Video Camera ◽  
Strain Rates ◽  
West Antarctica ◽  
Polar Ice ◽  
Vertical Strain ◽  
Ash Layer ◽  
Siple Dome ◽  
Polar Ice Sheets ◽  
Rate Profile

AbstractWe have developed a system for measuring a vertical strain-rate profile in the firn on polar ice sheets using a readily available video camera to detect metal bands inserted in an air-filled hole. We used this system in 1995 and 1996 at Taylor Dome, Antarctica. We use density measurements combined with our strain rates to infer vertical velocities. From our velocities we calculate a steady-state depth–age scale for the firn at Taylor Dome. The age of a visible ash layer from 79.1 m is 675 ± 25 years; this ash can be correlated with ash found at 97.2 m in a recent ice core at Siple Dome, West Antarctica.

scholarly journals Vertical-strain measurements in firn at Siple Dome, Antarctica

2004 ◽  
Vol 50 (170) ◽  
pp. 447-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L. Hawley ◽  
Edwin D. Waddington ◽  
Gregg W. Lamorey ◽  
Kendrick C. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Video Camera ◽  
Strain Measurements ◽  
The Core ◽  
Vertical Strain ◽  
Ash Layer ◽  
Siple Dome ◽  
Two Systems ◽  
Vertical Velocity Profile ◽  
Over Time

AbstractWe measured vertical strain in the firn at Siple Dome, Antarctica, using two systems, both of which measure relative displacements over time of metal markers placed in an air-filled borehole. One system uses a metal-detecting tuned coil, and the other uses a video camera to locate the markers. We compare the merits of the two systems. We combine steady-state calculations and a measured density profile to estimate the true vertical-velocity profile. This allows us to calculate a depth-age scale for the firn at Siple Dome. Our steady-state depth-age scale has ages ≈10-15% younger at any given depth when compared to depth-age scales derived by layer counting in a core 40 m away. The age of a visible ash layer at 97 m in the core is 665 ± 30 years, in agreement with a similar analysis conducted at Taylor Dome, Antarctica, where the same ash is also seen, providing an additional dated tie point between the two cores.

Tephrochronology of the Siple Dome ice core, West Antarctica: correlations and sources

2011 ◽  
Vol 30 (13-14) ◽  
pp. 1602-1614 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nelia W. Dunbar ◽  
Andrei V. Kurbatov
Keyword(s):  
Ice Core ◽  
West Antarctica ◽  
Siple Dome

scholarly journals Long-wavelength optical logging for high-resolution detection of ash layers in glacier ice

2016 ◽  
Vol 63 (237) ◽  
pp. 17-21
Author(s):  
WING S. CHAN ◽  
MERLIN L. MAH ◽  
RYAN C. BAY ◽  
JOSEPH J. TALGHADER
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Infrared Light ◽  
Spatial Spread ◽  
Long Wavelength ◽  
New Instrument ◽  
Siple Dome ◽  
Polar Ice Sheets ◽  
Glacier Ice

ABSTRACTA new instrument for high-resolution optical logging has been built and tested in Antarctica. Its purpose is to obtain records of volcanic products and other scattering features, such as bubbles and impurities, preserved in polar ice sheets, and it achieves this by using long wavelength near-infrared light that is absorbed by the ice before many scattering events occur. Longer wavelengths ensure that the return signal is composed primarily of a single or few backscattering event(s) that limit its spatial spread. The compact optical logger features no components on its body that draw power, which minimizes its size and weight. A prototype of the logger was built and tested at Siple Dome A borehole, and the results were correlated with prior optical logging profiles and records of volcanic products from collected ice core samples.

scholarly journals Depth- and time-dependent vertical strain rates at Siple Dome, Antarctica

2004 ◽  
Vol 50 (171) ◽  
pp. 511-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel H. Elsberg ◽  
William D. Harrison ◽  
Mark A. Zumberge ◽  
John L. Morack ◽  
Erin C. Pettit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Strain Rate ◽  
Time Dependence ◽  
Strain Gauge ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Strain Rates ◽  
Ice Streams ◽  
Vertical Strain ◽  
Siple Dome ◽  
A Site

AbstractAs part of a project to investigate the flow of ice at low effective stress, two independent strain-gauge systems were used to measure vertical strain rate as a function of depth and time at Siple Dome, Antarctica. The measurements were made from January 1998 until January 2002 at the ice divide and a site 7km to the northeast on the flank. The strain-rate profiles place constraints on the rheology of ice at low stress, show the expected differences between divide and flank flow (with some structure due to firn compaction and probably ice stratigraphy), and suggest that the flow of the ice sheet has not changed much in the last 8.6 kyr. The strain rates show an unexpected time dependence on scales ranging from several months to hours, including discrete summer events at the divide. Time dependence in strain rate, water pressure, seismicity, velocity and possibly basal motion has been seen previously on the Siple Coast ice streams, but it is especially surprising on Siple Dome because the bed is cold.

scholarly journals Post-drilling recrystallization of the Byrd Station deep ice core and its relevance to current and future deep-core drilling on polar ice sheets

1994 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 231-236
Author(s):  
A.J. Gow
Keyword(s):  
Ice Core ◽  
Ice Sheets ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
The United States ◽  
Polar Ice ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
Full Extent ◽  
Drill Site ◽  
Polar Ice Sheets ◽  
Highly Strained

Cores of highly strained ice recovered from depths of 1200–1800 m at Byrd Station in 1967–68 have been found to have recrystallized while in storage in the United States. Such recrystallization, inferred to have occurred when temperatures in the storage facility rose above about – 14°C, would not have been discovered if thin sections of the cores had not been prepared and photographed at the drill site within hours of pulling the cores to the surface. It was only after new sections of the long stored cores were compared with the original sections that the full extent of recrystallization was revealed. The recrystallized structure emulates in both texture and fabric those observed in naturally annealed ice in the bottom 350 m at Byrd Station. It is concluded that polar ice cores should be stored at temperatures of –20°C or colder in order to inhibit or minimize post-drilling recrystallization.

scholarly journals A Review of the Microstructural Location of Impurities in Polar Ice and Their Impacts on Deformation

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Stoll ◽  
Jan Eichler ◽  
Maria Hörhold ◽  
Wataru Shigeyama ◽  
Ilka Weikusat
Keyword(s):  
Deformation Behaviour ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Ice Sheets ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Triple Junctions ◽  
Polar Ice ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Polar Ice Sheets

Insoluble and soluble impurities, enclosed in polar ice sheets, have a major impact on the deformation behaviour of the ice. Macro- and Micro-scale deformation observed in ice sheets and ice cores has been retraced to chemical loads in the ice, even though the absolute concentration is negligible. And therefore the exact location of the impurities matters: Allocating impurities to specific locations inside the ice microstructure inherently determines the physical explanation of the observed interaction between chemical load and the deformational behaviour. Both, soluble and non-soluble impurities were located in grain boundaries, triple junctions or in the grain interior, using different methods, samples and theoretical approaches. While each of the observations is adding to the growing understanding of the effect of impurities in polar ice, the growing number of ambiguous results calls for a dedicated and holistic approach in assessing the findings. Thus, we here aim to give a state of the art overview of the development in microstructural impurity research over the last 20 years. We evaluate the used methods, discuss proposed deformation mechanisms and identify two main reasons for the observed ambiguity: 1) limitations and biases of measurement techniques and 2) the physical state of the analysed impurity. To overcome these obstacles we suggest possible approaches, such as the continuous analysis of impurities in deep ice cores with complementary methods, the implementation of these analyses into established in-situ ice core processing routines, a more holistic analysis of the microstructural location of impurities, and an enhanced knowledge-transfer via an open access data base.

scholarly journals The Influence On Atmospheric Composition of Volcanic Eruptions as Derived From Ice-Core Analysis

1985 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 125-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.U. Hammer
Keyword(s):  
Ice Core ◽  
Ice Sheets ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Atmospheric Composition ◽  
Core Analysis ◽  
Polar Ice ◽  
Ice Caps ◽  
The Past ◽  
Polar Ice Sheets

Polar ice cores offer datable past snow deposits in the form of annual ice layers, which reflect the past atmospheric composition. Trace substances in the cores are related to the past mid-tropospheric impurity load, this being due to the vast extent of the polar ice sheets (or ice caps), their surface elevations and remoteness from most aerosol sources. Volcanic eruptions add to the rather low background impurity load via their eruptive products. This paper concentrates on the widespread influence on atmospheric impurity loads caused by the acid gas products from volcanic eruptions. In particular the following subjects are discussed: acid volcanic signals in ice cores, latitude of eruptions as derived by ice-core analysis, inter-hemispheric dating of the two polar ice sheets by equatorial eruptions, volcanic deposits in ice cores during the last glacial period and climatic implications.

scholarly journals The Influence On Atmospheric Composition of Volcanic Eruptions as Derived From Ice-Core Analysis

1985 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 125-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.U. Hammer
Keyword(s):  
Ice Core ◽  
Ice Sheets ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Atmospheric Composition ◽  
Core Analysis ◽  
Polar Ice ◽  
Ice Caps ◽  
The Past ◽  
Polar Ice Sheets

Polar ice cores offer datable past snow deposits in the form of annual ice layers, which reflect the past atmospheric composition. Trace substances in the cores are related to the past mid-tropospheric impurity load, this being due to the vast extent of the polar ice sheets (or ice caps), their surface elevations and remoteness from most aerosol sources. Volcanic eruptions add to the rather low background impurity load via their eruptive products. This paper concentrates on the widespread influence on atmospheric impurity loads caused by the acid gas products from volcanic eruptions. In particular the following subjects are discussed: acid volcanic signals in ice cores, latitude of eruptions as derived by ice-core analysis, inter-hemispheric dating of the two polar ice sheets by equatorial eruptions, volcanic deposits in ice cores during the last glacial period and climatic implications.

scholarly journals Post-drilling recrystallization of the Byrd Station deep ice core and its relevance to current and future deep-core drilling on polar ice sheets

1994 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 231-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.J. Gow
Keyword(s):  
Ice Core ◽  
Ice Sheets ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
The United States ◽  
Polar Ice ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
Full Extent ◽  
Drill Site ◽  
Polar Ice Sheets ◽  
Highly Strained

Cores of highly strained ice recovered from depths of 1200–1800 m at Byrd Station in 1967–68 have been found to have recrystallized while in storage in the United States. Such recrystallization, inferred to have occurred when temperatures in the storage facility rose above about – 14°C, would not have been discovered if thin sections of the cores had not been prepared and photographed at the drill site within hours of pulling the cores to the surface. It was only after new sections of the long stored cores were compared with the original sections that the full extent of recrystallization was revealed. The recrystallized structure emulates in both texture and fabric those observed in naturally annealed ice in the bottom 350 m at Byrd Station. It is concluded that polar ice cores should be stored at temperatures of –20°C or colder in order to inhibit or minimize post-drilling recrystallization.

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