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Holocene climate history from ice cores, snow profiles, the glacial system and local climate patterns from the Evans Piedmont Glacier, Victoria Land Coast Antarctica

Entry ID: K049_1999_2008_NZ_6

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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 the Evans Piedmont Glacier. The Evans Piedmont Glacier was explored using GPS and GPR surveys and snow profile properties. GPR measurements were made with low and high frequency radar pulses to map the ... bedrock interface and internal flow structures in the glacier. Snow pits were excavated and the snow profile was analysed with 1cm resolution for snow chemistry and isotopic composition, dust content and mineralogy. Density and temperature of the snow pack was measured with 5cm resolution and snow crystal structure was investigated. One snow profile was sampled at 1cm resolution using ultra clean snow sampling methodology in order to maximise the array of potential measurable trace elements. Isotopic and major ion composition was also measured. Density and temperature profiling were conducted at 5cm resolution once sampling was complete. Physical description notes of crystal structure and the location of hoar horizons were used to provide a preliminary chronology. Two snow precipitation events were sampled hourly throughout the snowfall and was analysed for snow chemistry and isotopic composition. A 180m core was extracted, measured and logged. Each 1m long core had its core temperature measured (within 5 mins of core recovery), weighed to calculate density and determine the depth of bubble close off and firn/ice transition and investigated for crystal structure, melt and dust/tephra layer occurrence. Analysis of volume, grain size and mineralogy was taken to determine the source and to infer wind pattern and strength. Small chips were used to study gas bubble properties (including porosity, gas bubble size and geometry). The borehole was measured for temperature and light penetrations after drilling. Two snow profiles were analysed with high (1cm) resolution for analysis on snow chemistry and isotopic composition, dust content and mineralogy. Three snow pits were excavated to measure density and temperature of the snow pack and to study snow crystal structure and their geographic variability. An automatic weather station was installed as of 15 Nov, 2004 measuring air temperature, dew point temperature and solar radiation (incoming) at 2.5m height, snow accumulation and air temperature at 1.5m height, snow temperature from 0.5-2.5m depth at 12cm intervals and barometric pressure, wind speed and direction. Snow accumulation sensor and high precision snow temperature probe were installed to monitor snow accumulation rates, the potential influence of snow loss through sublimation, wind erosion or melt and the quality of preservation of the meteorological signal in the snow. Mass balance measurements using high precision, differential, static GPS to quantify total accumulation or ablation of the glacier were installed (coffee can devices), marked by GPS and measured in subsequent seasons.

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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: -77.72	S: -77.72	E: 162.55	W: 162.55
Min Altitude: 0 Max Altitude: 380
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: 2003-11-11

Paleo Temporal Coverage

Chrono Unit:

PHANEROZOIC > CENOZOIC > QUATERNARY > HOLOCENE

Location Keywords

CONTINENT > ANTARCTICA

CONTINENT > ANTARCTICA > EVANS PIEDMONT GLACIER

CONTINENT > ANTARCTICA > SOUTH VICTORIA LAND

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

GPS > Global Positioning System

GPR > Ground Penetrating Radar

Project

LTER > Long-Term Ecological Research

LGP > Latitudinal Gradient Project

Quality The project is currently ongoing an 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.

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Creation and Review Dates

DIF Creation Date: 2005-09-22

Last DIF Revision Date: 2009-05-01

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