Drilling continues in a stable mode

Two RECAP scientists, Johannes Freitag and Bo M. Vinther, study a visible layer in the ice core. The layer appears light brown / yellow in the picture, but consists of small particles that are dark brown or black. The layer is likely of volcanic origin, as increased acidity was detected close to the visible layer.

Wet drilling continues in a stable and highly productive mode: 15 runs produced 26.73 meters of core, and the core quality remains very high. Logged length 204.64 m.

The only measurement on the main core we perform in camp is a measurement of the acidity of the core, derived from the electrical conductivity of the ice (the so-called ECM data).

We have observed visible brownish layers in the ice core several times, but every time, the layer has been associated with low ECM values, and we have concluded that the layer has been a dust layer.

Today, we observed a visible layer with an associated high ECM signal, corresponding to an increase in acidity, probably from sulphate of volcanic origin. Layers like this are valuable for dating the ice, as they can both be connected to known dated volcanoes and can be used to synchronize ice core records from different cores.

The second shallow drilling was completed today at a depth of 70 meters. The last samples will be obtained tomorrow.

Weather: We have had clear sky all day, and weak winds from East and North. Daily temperatures from -17°C to -11°C.


Sune O. Rasmussen, RECAP FL