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Deep Ice Drilling on Law Dome

Entry ID: ASAC_15

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Summary

Abstract: This dataset includes records from ANARE Research Notes 76; The scientific plan for the deep ice drilling on Law Dome. Per the abstract of the ANARE 76 report:

Information on the past climatic and environmental conditions which existed on the surface of the earth and in its oceans, atmosphere and cryosphere can be gained by analysis of the solids, gases, water and dissolved matter contained in ... the Antarctic ice sheet. The Australian Antarctic Division will undertake a deep drilling program in the summer seasons 1989-90, 1990-91 and 1991-92 near the summit of Law Dome, Antarctica, to extract a 1240m ice core using an electromechanical drill in a fluid-filled borehole. The drill site has been selected to give optimum conditions for a detailed study of climatic and other changes. The snow accumulation rate at the site is 530 kg m^-2 a^-1, the surface temperature is -22 degrees C; and there is no evidence of the occurrence of surface melting in the summer months. It will be possible to determine an accurate age-depth scale for the core by counting annual layers, which are expected to be detectable to a depth of about 800m, equivalent to an age of 10,000 years. The age of the basal ice is expected to be of the order of 50,000 years.

The report outlines the types of records it is intended to obtain from analysis of the core and surveys of the borehole, their potential applications and scientific justification. The recommended ice core analysis plan suggests the type and frequency of sampling required for the different parameters and describes the types of measurements and observations that will be made; e.g. visible features, oxygen and hydrogen isotope ratios, solid DC-conductivity, density, total gas content, gas composition, trace chemical and particulate content, radio-isotopes, crystal structure, etc. The high accumulation rate and low surface temperature at the site give excellent conditions for gas composition studies with an age resolution to as good as 20 years for the contained gases. It should also be possible to study the changes that have occurred in many parameters since the last ice age, at any temporal resolution from long term trends down to seasonal variations. Surveys of the borehole will be made to determine the vertical temperature profile and deformation rates inside the ice cap.

The interrelation and interdependence of the various measurements is discussed. Experience gained from previous drilling and core analysis programs has been drawn upon to design a core processing and analysis plan. The schedule of activities has been arranged to optimise core conservation and the efficiency of the scheme. Available analysis facilities are reviewed and opportunities for collaboration with institutes in Australia and from other nations are highlighted.

An outline of the logistic support required for the efficient running of the field program is included. A full environmental impact evaluation has been carried out elsewhere. A summary of the points addressed in the evaluation is included for information. They are specified in accordance with the Australian Antarctic Division guidelines.

The fields in this dataset are:
Year drilled
Location
Drilling method
Depth of drilling
Age at hole bottom
Total thickness
Mean annual surface temperature
Annual accumulation

This project was rolled into ASAC project 757 (ASAC_757).

Related URL

Link: GET DATA

Description: Download point for ANARE 76 data.

Link: VIEW PROJECT HOME PAGE

Description: Public information for ASAC project 15

Link: VIEW PROJECT HOME PAGE

Description: Public information for ASAC project 757

Link: VIEW RELATED INFORMATION

Description: Citation reference for this metadata record and dataset

Geographic Coverage

(Click for Interactive Map)

Spatial coordinates

N: -66.73

S: -66.73

E: 112.83

W: 112.83

Temporal Coverage

Start Date: 1989-01-01

Stop Date: 1992-12-31

Location Keywords

CONTINENT > ANTARCTICA

GEOGRAPHIC REGION > POLAR

Science Keywords

CRYOSPHERE > SNOW/ICE > ICE DEPTH/THICKNESS

ISO Topic Category

GEOSCIENTIFIC INFORMATION

INLAND WATERS

Access Constraints The dataset is available from the provided URL.

Use Constraints This data set conforms to the PICCCBY Attribution License
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).

Please follow instructions listed in the citation reference at the provided URL when using these data.

Ancillary Keywords

AGE

AGE-DEPTH SCALE

Data Set Progress

COMPLETE

Data Center

Australian Antarctic Data Centre, Australia

Data Center URL: http://data.aad.gov.au

Data Center Personnel
Name: DATA OFFICER AADC Phone: +61 3 6232 3244 Fax: +61 3 6232 3351 Email: metadata at aad.gov.au Contact Address: Australian Antarctic Division 203 Channel Highway City: Kingston Province or State: Tasmania Postal Code: 7050 Country: Australia

Distribution

Distribution Media: HTTP

Distribution Size: 3.6KB

Distribution Format: .csv

Fees: free

Personnel

VIN MORGAN

Role: INVESTIGATOR

Role: TECHNICAL CONTACT

Role: DIF AUTHOR

Phone: +61 3 6226 2954

Fax: +61 3 6226 2902

Email: vin.morgan at utas.edu.au

Contact Address:

Grosvenor St

Antarctic CRC, University of Tasmania

City: Sandy Bay

Province or State: Tasmania

Postal Code: 7005

Country: Australia

Publications/References

Etheridge, D.M. (1990) Scientific plan for the deep ice drilling on Law Dome, ANARE Research Notes 76, Australian Antarctic Division

Creation and Review Dates

DIF Creation Date: 2000-07-17

Last DIF Revision Date: 2010-07-01

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