Project Title

Collaborative Research: Sensitivity of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet to 2 Celsius (SWAIS 2C)

Summary

Event Number:
G-070-M
NSF / OPP Award 2035035

Program Director:
Dr. Michael Jackson

ASC POC/Implementer:
John Rand / Jenny Cunningham

Principal Investigator(s)

Dr. Molly O'Rourke Patterson
patterso@binghamton.edu
Geosciences
Binghamton, New York

Project Web Site:
https://www.swais2c.aq/

Location

Supporting Stations: McMurdo Station
Research Locations: Scott Base, West Antarctica, Kamb Ice Stream

Description

Sea level rise is one of the clearest planet-wide signals of human-induced climate change. Given the far-reaching and international consequences of Antarctica’s future contribution to global sea level rise, the SWAIS 2C Project was developed through international collaboration to better forecast the size and timing of future changes. SWAIS 2C project scientists will collect and study geological (rocks), glaciological (ice), and geophysical (Earth physical properties) data and provide new information to guide the development of climate and ice sheet numerical models to better understand and predict how the ice sheet on West Antarctica will contribute to future sea level rise. The project’s drilling campaign aims to recover ~200 m sediment cores from two locations beneath the eastern edge of the Ross Ice Shelf, designated as the Kamb Ice Stream (KIS-3) and Crary Ice Rise (CIR-1) field sites. This project, performed in collaboration with 10 nations and the Antarctica New Zealand Program acting as the project operator for coordination and most logistical needs, is supporting a United States (U.S.) scientific team. Key goals of the U.S. participation are to bring a range of scientific expertise to the project and to broaden involvement of early career scientists in Antarctic research.

Field Season Overview

This season, the Antarctica New Zealand's SWAIS 2C Project drilling campaign aims to complete work at the Kamb Ice Stream (KIS-3) site by recovering additional sediment and water samples from beneath the ice. Up to three U.S. scientists will participate during the 2024-25 field season. Up to three participants will be housed at Scott Base prior to and upon returning from the field site. Extreme cold weather gear (ECW) and fixed wing transportation will be provided by the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP). All support at the field site will be provided by Antarctica New Zealand except for intercontinental flights, ECW and sleep kits provided at McMurdo Station. Megan Heins will stay two weeks at McMurdo Station after field work and work in Crary Lab to obtain initial results. USAP will also provide fixed-wing support, consisting of up to 9 round-trip Basler missions between McMurdo Station and KIS-3.

Deploying Team Members