Stratigraphic analysis of a deep ice core from Greenland
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Date
1967-05
Authors
Langway, Chester C., 1929-
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (U.S.)
Engineer Research and Development Center (U.S.)
Engineer Research and Development Center (U.S.)
Abstract
Description
Research Report
Abstract: A deep rotary core drilling project in 1957 at Site 2 on the Greenland ice sheet (76°59'N, 56°04'W provided ice core to a depth of 411 m. The vertical variation in bulk density, macroscopic structure, oxygen isotope ratios, ionic constituents, and extraterrestrial dust (black spherules) were analyzed using both field and laboratory techniques . These data permit the direct estimate of annual accumulation layers in the core. Continuous stratigraphic measurements and observations were made over the upper 110 m of the profile and detailed physical and chemical analyses were made on continuous lo 3 to 3.9-m core increments at 100, 200, 300 and 411-m depths. The average total ionic concentration in the ice sheet ranges between 0.65 and 1.35 mg/liter. The annual global mass deposit of black spherules as calculated from these studies varies from 2.10 x 10^5 metric tons in 700 year old ice to 6.57 x 10^5 metric tons in 12 year old firn. The oxygen isotope ratio variation provides the best means of estimating accumulation at depth. Results of the investigations indicate rates of net snow accumulation of 42.3, 34.2, 37.4, 41.1 and 41.6 g/cm^2 -yr at the surface, A.D. c. 1773, c. 1513, c. 1233 and c. 934 respectively. Accumulation data and other physical and chemical evidence allow climatological inferences to be made over the 10-century profile. The ice core record shows that snow accumulation and temperature in A. D. 934 were similar to today, followed by a gradual decrease in accumulation to a minimum around the late 18th century and an increase in both accumulation and temperature from A. D. 1773 to 1957 and following.
Abstract: A deep rotary core drilling project in 1957 at Site 2 on the Greenland ice sheet (76°59'N, 56°04'W provided ice core to a depth of 411 m. The vertical variation in bulk density, macroscopic structure, oxygen isotope ratios, ionic constituents, and extraterrestrial dust (black spherules) were analyzed using both field and laboratory techniques . These data permit the direct estimate of annual accumulation layers in the core. Continuous stratigraphic measurements and observations were made over the upper 110 m of the profile and detailed physical and chemical analyses were made on continuous lo 3 to 3.9-m core increments at 100, 200, 300 and 411-m depths. The average total ionic concentration in the ice sheet ranges between 0.65 and 1.35 mg/liter. The annual global mass deposit of black spherules as calculated from these studies varies from 2.10 x 10^5 metric tons in 700 year old ice to 6.57 x 10^5 metric tons in 12 year old firn. The oxygen isotope ratio variation provides the best means of estimating accumulation at depth. Results of the investigations indicate rates of net snow accumulation of 42.3, 34.2, 37.4, 41.1 and 41.6 g/cm^2 -yr at the surface, A.D. c. 1773, c. 1513, c. 1233 and c. 934 respectively. Accumulation data and other physical and chemical evidence allow climatological inferences to be made over the 10-century profile. The ice core record shows that snow accumulation and temperature in A. D. 934 were similar to today, followed by a gradual decrease in accumulation to a minimum around the late 18th century and an increase in both accumulation and temperature from A. D. 1773 to 1957 and following.
Keywords
Drilling, Ice, Ice cores, Glacier ice, Ice impurities, Age determination, Snow cover, Ablation, Stratigraphy, Ice composition, Geology, Greenland k
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