June 26, 2018

Entering glacial ice

Possibly the Vedde ash layer at the very end of the last glacial period.

Today, visible cloudy bands showed up in the freshly drilled ice core; a clear indication that we have now entered ice from the last glacial period. The ice contains an annual dust spike that forms the visible cloudy layers. Later a volcanic ash layer showed up, possibly being the well-known Icelandic Vedde ash layer that is widespread in the North Atlantic region. In the science trench, processing is slowly starting up again after the crew exchange. At the firn gas site drilling continued, and 27 km NW of camp the RADIX fast access drilling camp was set up. All over camp the three visiting media crews have been active filming and interviewing. For dinner, our two cooks, Kevin and Frederik, spoiled us with a super-delicious meal. In the evening, there was a soccer match inside the Dome (France against Denmark) and another match outside the Dome (among locals) all surveyed by a drone.

What we did today:

1. Deep drilling 21.46 m. Drillers’ depth 1260.84 m. Loggers depth 1272.37 m
2. Science trench processing below brittle zone, 2075-2086, depth 1140.70-1147.30 m.
3. DEP measurement of firn gas shallow core to 117 m depth
4. Measurements in isotope laboratory, final depth: 745.25 m
5. Measurements in physical properties laboratory.
6. Shallow drilling at firn gas site to 126 m depth
7. Water vapour sampling and measuring.
8. The RADIX team established the drill site 27.2 km NW of camp

Weather: Ground fog in the morning and evening, clear blue sky otherwise. Temperature -12 °C to -24 °C. Wind 0-10 kt from SW turning NW.

FL, Anders Svensson

The RADIX camp set up 27 km NW of EGRIP. A radar survey has shown that there is a gigantic folding of the ice deep down below. Will it be possible to poke into it?

The AWI gang out in the cold.