Ice Core Working Group

Ice Core Working Group 2024 Meeting

A virtual meeting of the Ice Core Working Group (ICWG) was held on April, 2024, to discuss updates to the Long Range Science Plan (LRSP) and other ICWG business. Discussions included updates from IDP and the NSF Ice Core Facility (NSF-ICF), discussion about the NSF-ICF Use and Ice Core Sample Allocation Policy, NSF-ICF Sample Allocation Committee membership composition, discussion about the Beacon/Mullins Valley cores archived at the NSF-ICF, updates to the LRSP, and ice drilling technology development priorities for the LRSP. 

The members of the ICWG are: 

  • Becky Alexander, Chair (University of Washington) 
  • T.J. Fudge (University of Washington) 
  • Alex Michaud (The Ohio State University) 
  • Summer Burton Rupper (University of Utah) 
  • Jeff Severinghaus (Scripps Institution of Oceanography) 
  • Sarah Shackleton (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) 
  • Dom Winski (University of Maine)

Science Advisory Board 2024 Meeting

The U.S. Ice Drilling Program (IDP) convenes a Science Advisory Board (SAB) to form and update the Long Range Science Plan that addresses multiple aspects of ice core and other ice science and associated technology. The annual SAB meeting was held in-person on February 15-16, 2024, in Arlington, VA. The first part of the meeting was an open session and included updates from IDP, the NSF Ice Core Facility, the Ice Core Working Group, and the Englacial and Subglacial Access Working Group (ESAWG). It also included discussions regarding ESAWG planning, and Safe and Inclusive Plan templates. The second part of the meeting was a closed session in which the SAB prioritized the technology investments outlined in the Long Range Science Plan and discussed SAB member rotation and SAB Terms of Reference. 

The members of the SAB are: 

  • T.J. Fudge, Chair (University of Washington) 
  • Joel Harper (University of Montana) 
  • Matthew Siegfried (Colorado School of Mines) 
  • Sarah Shackleton (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) 
  • Martin Truffer (University of Alaska Fairbanks) 
  • Ryan Venturelli (Colorado School of Mines) 
  • Trista Vick-Majors (Michigan Technological University)

Ice Core Working Group 2023 Meeting

An in-person meeting of the Ice Core Working Group (ICWG) was held on May 11, 2023, at the University of Washington, following the 2nd U.S. Ice Core Open Science Meeting. Several people also attended the meeting via Zoom. Discussions included updates from IDP and the NSF Ice Core Facility, discussion about coordination with other Science Advisory Board (SAB) working groups and the SAB itself, updates to the Long Range Science Plan (LRSP), and ice drilling technology development for the LRSP. The agenda and presentations from the meeting are available on the IDP website.

Ice Core Working Group 2022 Meeting

A virtual meeting of the Ice Core Working Group (ICWG) was held on February 17 to discuss updates to the Long Range Science Plan and other ICWG business. The presentations made during the February meeting are available on the IDP website. Following the U.S. Ice Core Open Science Meeting, a short hybrid (in-person and online) meeting of the ICWG was also held on May 26 in La Jolla, CA.

Screenshot of Krissy Slawny discussing updates on IDP Wisconsin operations (drill maintenance and upgrades, drill development, and fieldwork) during the February 17, 2022, Ice Core Working Group meeting. All presentations made during the February meeting are available on the IDP website.

Screenshot of Mary Albert discussing IDP science and technology planning during the February 17, 2022, Ice Core Working Group meeting. All presentations made during the February meeting are available on the IDP website.

Screenshot of Louise Huffman discussing IDP education and public outreach activities during the February 17, 2022, Ice Core Working Group meeting. All presentations made during the February meeting are available on the IDP website. Visit the IDP education and outreach website at https://icedrill-education.org/.

Ice Core Working Group 2021 Meeting

The annual Ice Core Working Group (ICWG) meeting was held virtually on March 8 via Zoom. Discussions included updates from NSF and IDP, project updates from Canada, Greenland, and Antarctica, the current status and future plans for the NSF-Ice Core Facility, data archiving, updates to the Long Range Science Plan (LRSP), and ice drilling technology development for the LRSP. The presentations made during the meeting are available on the IDP website at https://icedrill.org/library/presentations-2021-ice-core-working-group-meeting.

2020 Ice Core Working Group White Papers

IDP held the Ice Core Working Group Community Planning Workshop on April 2-3, 2020. Originally planned to be held in Alexandria, VA, and originally advertised as the Ice Core Science Community Planning Workshop 2020, the workshop was held virtually via Zoom in response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Participants articulated future science targets in Greenland, Antarctica, and alpine glaciers and ice caps (outside Antarctica and Greenland), and discussed recommendations for the NSF Ice Core Facility. The workshop produced the following white papers:

Ice Core Working Group (ICWG) Community Planning Workshop

IDP held the Ice Core Working Group Community Planning Workshop on April 2-3. Originally planned to be held in Alexandria, VA, and originally advertised as the Ice Core Science Community Planning Workshop 2020, the workshop was held virtually via Zoom in response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Participants articulated future science targets in Greenland, Antarctica, and alpine glaciers and ice caps (outside Antarctica and Greenland), and also discussed recommendations for the NSF Ice Core Facility. Presentations made during the meeting are available on the IDP website. The workshop produced the following white papers. U.S. scientists are invited to provide additional input to the white papers. Comments and edits are required before June 4, 2020.

  • Research Priorities for Alpine Glaciers and Ice Caps
  • Community Recommendations for the NSF Ice Core Facility
  • Paleoclimate Ice Core Research Priorities in Antarctica
  • Ice Core Research Priorities in Greenland

For more information about the ICWG, visit the ICWG webpage.

Save the Date! IDP Ice Core Working Group Community Planning Workshop April 2-3, 2020

Information on the location and agenda will be forthcoming — stay tuned!!

IDPO Ice Core Working Group Tackles Science-Technology Tradeoffs

The IDPO Ice Core Working Group (ICWG) meeting was held in Alexandria, VA on January 22, 2018. Scientific findings from recent drilling activities were presented, and future possible investigations in Greenland and Antarctica were identified and discussed. The ICWG reaffirmed Hercules Dome as the priority deep drilling site for the community, due to its key location in archiving evidence of past dramatic changes in the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Science-technology tradeoffs were discussed regarding use of the Foro 3000 Drill versus the DISC Drill at Hercules Dome; the DISC Drill delivers a larger volume of ice, however the Foro 3000 Drill has much lower logistical requirements. The ICWG came to agreement that the Foro 3000 Drill will be the drill of choice for this important site.

Ice Core Working Group Virtual Meeting

On May 21, 2015, IDPO's Ice Core Working Group (ICWC) held a virtual meeting in which it discussed current and upcoming ice coring issues, and reviewed and approved the prioritization of the drilling technology projects that the IDPO Science Advisory Board had recommended. The meeting was led by ICWG Chair Karl Kreutz.

Requesting Field Support

If you are preparing a NSF proposal that includes any kind of support from IDP, you must include a Letter of Support from IDP in the proposal. Researchers are asked to provide IDP with a detailed support request three weeks prior to the date the Letter of Support is required. Early submissions are strongly encouraged.

Program Information

The U.S. Ice Drilling Program (IDP) is a NSF-funded facility. IDP conducts integrated planning for the ice drilling science and technology communities, and provides drilling technology and operational support that enables the community to advance the frontiers of climate and environmental science.