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Physical properties of the WAIS Divide ice core

Physical properties of the WAIS Divide ice core
Physical properties of the WAIS Divide ice core
The WAIS (West Antarctic Ice Sheet) Divide deep ice core was recently completed to a total depth of 3405 m, ending ~50 m above the bed. Investigation of the visual stratigraphy and grain characteristics indicates that the ice column at the drilling location is undisturbed by any large-scale overturning or discontinuity. The climate record developed from this core is therefore likely to be continuous and robust. Measured grain-growth rates, recrystallization characteristics, and grain-size response at climate transitions fit within current understanding. Significant impurity control on grain size is indicated from correlation analysis between impurity loading and grain size. Bubble-number densities and bubble sizes and shapes are presented through the full extent of the bubbly ice. Where bubble elongation is observed, the direction of elongation is preferentially parallel to the trace of the basal (0001) plane. Preferred crystallographic orientation of grains is present in the shallowest samples measured, and increases with depth, progressing to a vertical-girdle pattern that tightens to a vertical single-maximum fabric. This single-maximum fabric switches into multiple maxima as the grain size increases rapidly in the deepest, warmest ice. A strong dependence of the fabric on the impurity- mediated grain size is apparent in the deepest samples.
1181-1198
Fitzpatrick, Joan J.
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Voigt, Donald E.
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Fegyveresi, John M.
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Stevens, Nathan T.
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Spencer, Matthew K.
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Cole-Dai, Jihong
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Alley, Richard B.
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Jardine, Gabriella E.
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Cravens, Eric D.
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Wilen, Lawrence A.
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Fudge, T.J.
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McConnell, Joseph R.
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Fitzpatrick, Joan J.
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Voigt, Donald E.
294b3c90-c077-4122-94d3-3fc6018c0e1b
Fegyveresi, John M.
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Stevens, Nathan T.
dc337849-cd07-431b-ada2-a9ecdc0cdfcc
Spencer, Matthew K.
53627186-3c72-4a90-84a7-826fbbb6b0bc
Cole-Dai, Jihong
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Alley, Richard B.
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Jardine, Gabriella E.
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Cravens, Eric D.
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Wilen, Lawrence A.
eadc46a5-5281-449a-bbd0-72aa0abe0c55
Fudge, T.J.
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McConnell, Joseph R.
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Fitzpatrick, Joan J., Voigt, Donald E., Fegyveresi, John M., Stevens, Nathan T., Spencer, Matthew K., Cole-Dai, Jihong, Alley, Richard B., Jardine, Gabriella E., Cravens, Eric D., Wilen, Lawrence A., Fudge, T.J. and McConnell, Joseph R. (2014) Physical properties of the WAIS Divide ice core. Journal of Glaciology, 60 (224), 1181-1198. (doi:10.3189/2014JoG14J100).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The WAIS (West Antarctic Ice Sheet) Divide deep ice core was recently completed to a total depth of 3405 m, ending ~50 m above the bed. Investigation of the visual stratigraphy and grain characteristics indicates that the ice column at the drilling location is undisturbed by any large-scale overturning or discontinuity. The climate record developed from this core is therefore likely to be continuous and robust. Measured grain-growth rates, recrystallization characteristics, and grain-size response at climate transitions fit within current understanding. Significant impurity control on grain size is indicated from correlation analysis between impurity loading and grain size. Bubble-number densities and bubble sizes and shapes are presented through the full extent of the bubbly ice. Where bubble elongation is observed, the direction of elongation is preferentially parallel to the trace of the basal (0001) plane. Preferred crystallographic orientation of grains is present in the shallowest samples measured, and increases with depth, progressing to a vertical-girdle pattern that tightens to a vertical single-maximum fabric. This single-maximum fabric switches into multiple maxima as the grain size increases rapidly in the deepest, warmest ice. A strong dependence of the fabric on the impurity- mediated grain size is apparent in the deepest samples.

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More information

Published date: December 2014
Organisations: Paleooceanography & Palaeoclimate

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 376993
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/376993
PURE UUID: 4f55f11b-6625-4d97-9505-e2f60c1105fd
ORCID for Gabriella E. Jardine: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-5778-6487

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Date deposited: 12 May 2015 12:17
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 19:53

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Contributors

Author: Joan J. Fitzpatrick
Author: Donald E. Voigt
Author: John M. Fegyveresi
Author: Nathan T. Stevens
Author: Matthew K. Spencer
Author: Jihong Cole-Dai
Author: Richard B. Alley
Author: Gabriella E. Jardine ORCID iD
Author: Eric D. Cravens
Author: Lawrence A. Wilen
Author: T.J. Fudge
Author: Joseph R. McConnell

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