Ice drilling on Skytrain Ice Rise and Sherman Island, Antarctica
Robert Mulvaney, Julius Rix, Scott Polfrey, Mackenzie M. Grieman, Carlos Martín, Christoph Nehrbass‐Ahles, Isobel Rowell, Rebecca Tuckwell, Eric Wolff
Abstract
Abstract To understand the long-term climate and glaciological evolution of the ice sheet in the region bordering the Weddell Sea, the British Antarctic Survey has undertaken a series of successful ice core projects drilling to bedrock on Berkner Island, James Ross Island and the Fletcher Promontory. A new project, WACSWAIN, seeks to increase this knowledge by further drilling to bedrock on two further ice rises in this region. In a single-season project, an ice core was recovered to bedrock at 651 m on Skytrain Ice Rise using an ice core drill in a fluid-filled borehole. In a second season, a rapid access drill was used to recover ice chips to 323 m on Sherman Island in a dry borehole, though failing to reach the bedrock which was at an estimated depth of 428 m.