Project Title

STC: Center for OLDest Ice EXploration (COLDEX): Surface Geophysics Surveys, East Antarctic Plateau

Summary

Event Number:
I-186-M/S
NSF / OPP Award 2019719

Program Director:
Dr. Kelly Brunt

ASC POC/Implementer:
Allison Barden / Jenny Cunningham / Matthew Kippenhan

Principal Investigator(s)

Dale Winebrenner
dpw@apl.washington.edu
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington

Project Web Site:
https://coldex.org/

Location

Supporting Stations: McMurdo Station, South Pole Station
Research Locations: East Antarctic Plateau

Description

The Center for Oldest Ice Exploration (COLDEX) seeks the oldest Antarctic ice samples to reconstruct past climate extending millions of years into the past. The overarching goals of COLDEX include: 1) To identify sites for a continuous 1.5-million-year ice core capable resolving orbital cycles in climate variables; and 2) To create an archive of well-documented old ice samples. I-187-M addresses that second goal. To address the first goal, in the 2024-25 season, I-186-M/S will deploy a geophysics team ~400 km from South Pole Station toward Dome A supported by the Heavy Science Traverse. They will use mixed radar, seismic and magnetotelluric techniques to investigate the deepest stratigraphic layers to better understand conditions and possibility of stratigraphic preservation of old ice.

Field Season Overview

A team of eight, including one grantee-provided mountaineer and one Antarctic Support Contract (ASC)-provided mountaineer, will conduct snowmobile-based geophysical surveys on the East Antarctic Plateau (EAP) out of South Pole Station. Prior to the team's arrival, the Heavy Science Traverse (HST) will travel from McMurdo Station to South Pole Station and on to the EAP study site, transporting cargo, fuel, structures and heavy equipment. The ASC mountaineer will travel with HST from South Pole Station to the site to ensure a safe route. With cargo delivered to the site, the science team will fly in via Twin Otter from South Pole Station to begin their work. They will drive snowmobile radar surveys on a 50 x 50 km grid around their campsite. Some ApRES units will be installed in this area overwinter to be recovered next season. The team will also make ApRES measurements by Twin Otter day trip to farther out areas. After approximately three weeks in the field, they will return to South Pole Station and redeploy through McMurdo Station.

Deploying Team Members