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Holocene climate history from ice cores, snow profiles, weather and glacier investigations (topography, mass balance and bedrock mapping) of the Victoria Lower Glacier, Victoria Land Coast, Antarctica

Entry ID: K049_1999_2008_NZ_2

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Summary

Abstract: To understand the drivers and consequences of climate change on timescales important to humans, the paleoclimate of ice cores, the glacial system and local climate patterns were analysed from two sites at the Victoria Lower Glacier. Four shallow cores of differing depths were recovered from the glacier. Two were measured for density profile in the field and the other two were sent to NZ and USA ... for further analysis. The topography of the glacier surface was surveyed applying differential GPS. Snow profiles for 0-3m depth were cut and investigated. The analysis included visual logging, density measurements and sampling for determining isotopic and chemistry characteristics. Bore-hole temperature of the drill holes was measured. A weather station was installed measuring temperature, wind speed and direction, relative humidity, solar radiation and snow pack temperature. Mass balance measurements were installed at two sites using high precision, differential, static GPS to quantify mass balance are re-measured over several seasons. The so-called Coffee-Can devices are used to measure the horizontal and vertical displacement of anchors placed at shallow depths in the glacier. A GPR survey was carried out to map the bedrock topography and internal structure of the glacier. Three different antennae frequencies were used (35, 200 and 400MHz) for different resolution and penetration depths. Eight shallow firn and ice cores were recovered and analysed for crystal structure, melt and dust layer with samples being returned to the USA for further analysis. Two snow profiles (5m and 1m) were cut and sampled in 1cm resolution for major ion content, isotope ratios and in 5cm resolution for dust flux and beta radioactivity. Temperature, crystal geometry and density of the snow profiles were measured on site. Temporary ablation stakes for mass balance measurements and dust/diatom traps were employed for 8 weeks and analysed for dust mineralogy, grain size and relative quantity, diatom species found and weekly changes in snow cover. A 180m core was extracted, measured, logged and sent to NZ and USA for further analysis (water and dust analysis, density measurements). The borehole was cased and capped for future measurements such as temperature, magnetic susceptibility and transmissivity of light. Basic weather observations were recorded. A 1m deep snow sequence was sampled with 1cm resolution for analysis on snow chemistry, isotopic composition, dust content and mineralogy.

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Description: The IGS global system of satellite tracking stations, Data Centers, and Analysis Centers puts high-quality GPS data and data products on line in near real time to meet the objectives of a wide range of scientific and engineering applications and studies.

Geographic Coverage

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Spatial coordinates

	N: -77.33	S: -77.33	E: 162.53	W: 162.53
Min Altitude: 577 Max Altitude: 637
Min Depth: 0 Max Depth: 200

Parent DIF

This data set description is a member of a collection. The collection is described in
K049_1999_2008_NZ_1

Temporal Coverage

Start Date: 1999-11-24

Paleo Temporal Coverage

Chrono Unit:

PHANEROZOIC > CENOZOIC > QUATERNARY > HOLOCENE

Location Keywords

CONTINENT > ANTARCTICA

CONTINENT > ANTARCTICA > VICTORIA LAND COAST

GEOGRAPHIC REGION > POLAR

Science Keywords

CRYOSPHERE > GLACIERS/ICE SHEETS > GLACIERS

PALEOCLIMATE > ICE CORE RECORDS

ISO Topic Category

CLIMATOLOGY/METEOROLOGY/ATMOSPHERE

GEOSCIENTIFIC INFORMATION

Instrument

CORING DEVICES

MMS > Meteorological Measurement System

GPS > Global Positioning System

GPR > Ground Penetrating Radar

Project

LTER > Long-Term Ecological Research

LGP > Latitudinal Gradient Project

Quality The project is currently ongoing and some of the data is available in various databases which are constantly changing. The investigator is the best person to contact for access to the data.

Data Set Progress

IN WORK

Originating Center

Data Center

Antarctica New Zealand, New Zealand Antarctic Institute, New Zealand

Data Center URL: http://www.antarcticanz.govt.nz/

Data Center Personnel
Name: SHULAMIT GORDON Phone: +64 3 358 0200 Fax: +64 3 358 0211 Email: s.gordon at antarcticanz.govt.nz Contact Address: Antarctica New Zealand Private Bag 4745 City: Christchurch Country: New Zealand

Personnel

NANCY BERTLER

Role: INVESTIGATOR

Phone: +64 4 463 6196

Fax: +64 4 463 5186

Email: Nancy.Bertler at vuw.ac.nz

Contact Address:

Antarctic Research Center

Victoria University of Wellington

PO BOX 600

City: Wellington

Postal Code: 6140

Country: New Zealand

CEISHA POIROT

Role: DIF AUTHOR

Phone: +64 3 358 0200

Fax: +64 3 358 0211

Email: c.poirot at antarcticanz.govt.nz

Contact Address:

Antarctica New Zealand

Private Bag 4745

City: Christchurch

Country: New Zealand

SHULAMIT GORDON

Role: DIF AUTHOR

Phone: +64 3 358 0200

Fax: +64 3 358 0211

Email: s.gordon at antarcticanz.govt.nz

Contact Address:

Antarctica New Zealand

Private Bag 4745

City: Christchurch

Country: New Zealand

Publications/References

Bertler, N.A.N. 2003 Understanding the climate behavior of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, from coastal ice cores. Ph.D., Victoria University of Wellington.

Bertler, N.A.N. Barrett, P.J. Mayewski, P.A. Fogt, R.L. Kreutz, K.J. Shulmeister, J. El Nino suppresses Antarctic warming. Geophysical research letters 31, 2004.
...

Creation and Review Dates

DIF Creation Date: 2005-09-22

Last DIF Revision Date: 2009-05-01

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