COMPILED REPORTS OF THE
U.S. ICE CORE RESEARCH WORKSHOP

3.2 ANTARCTIC DEEP CORE: FIELD AND LABORATORY ANALYSIS

(Moderator: C.M. Laird)

The requirements for analysis of a deep Antarctic ice core are similar to those outlined in the GISP II Lab and Field Analysis section (Grootes) and will not be repeated here. However, there are some unique differences between Antarctica and Greenland that require special consideration.

Dating

Unlike Greenland, there are many areas in Antarctica where low accumulation and strong winds obscure the annual cycles. Thus absolute dating of the upper portion of each ice core with conventional methods is not always feasible and other techniques must be used. Ice cores obtained from these areas of the continent can be dated be identifying marker horizons such as volcanic eruptions and 1OBe spikes for the era in which historical records exist and by cross-correlation with cores taken from high accumulation areas that have been dated accurately. For prehistoric periods, less precise methods such as radioactive isotope dating, and ice flow modeling will have to suffice.
One possibility for establishing a continuous climate/time curve which would not require large samples is dD measurements using a portable mass spectrometer. Such a system could be developed with off-the-shelf hardware to make these measurements on site or at some central location where ice cores from different parts of the continent could be brought for analysis.

Comparative Studies

The Antarctic environment is quite different from Greenland and these should be exploited more fully. Due to its location, Antarctica is more subject both to marine (as opposed to continental) influences and to stratospheric conditions. This makes it an ideal place to study ocean/air and air/ice transfer, and troposphere/stratosphere exchange of soluble and insoluble species. In order to establish a baseline for proper interpretation of the paleoatmosphere, short-term environmental and meteorological records at various sites in Antarctica should be compared with the analytical results from ice cores and surface studies from the same regions and time intervals. Finally, in order to do these studies properly, greater interactions with meteorologists and atmospheric scientists are urgently needed and should be established.

Potential Facilities

The new science building in McMardo could be utilized by major drilling projects for initial and time-priority ice core processing and analysis. Therefore, a priority list of equipment required at the facility together with a brief justification for each item should be developed for consideration. In addition, the Christchurch airport in New Zealand is being remodeled and U.S. operation procedures are being modified. Space may be available for a modest ice core facility. Any thoughts or comments on this possibility should be brought to the attention of Hal Bornes at DPP.

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