Deep Core Drilling in the Ross Ice Shelf, Little America V, Antarctica

Title Deep Core Drilling in the Ross Ice Shelf, Little America V, Antarctica
Publication Type
Report
Year
1960
Author(s) Richard H Ragle , B Lyle Hansen, Anthony J Gow, Robert W Patenaude
Journal/ Publication
U.S. SIPRE Technical Report 70
Pagination
1-10
Abstract

Drilling operations and core and drill hole investigations at Little America V in Oct. - Dec. 1958, as well as measurements at Byrd Station in Dec. 1958 are discussed. The hole at Little America V reached 836 ft, and core recovery was 98% of the footage drilled. No saline ice was found in the bottom core, indicating that the bottom ice is melting. In detailed stratigraphic studies made to a depth of 53 m, summer snow deposits were coarse-grained and often associated with icy crusts, ice layers, and glands. Winter deposits were finer-grained, more homogeneous, and lacked the soaked appearance of summer snow. Periods of 2-3 consecutive years at more or less regular intervals of 10-20 yr show intense ice formation. Layers of foreign material, tentatively indentified as volcanic asj, were observed at 172.1 m, 219.4 m, and 222.8 m. The depth-density curve steepened between 20.7 and 36.5 m. If annual precipitation is estimated at 21 cm of water, Little America V rests on about 1225 yr of accumulated snow. Data (some of a preliminary nature) are tabluated and graphed: the depth-density profile to a depth of 53 m; the nature of ice at various depths; ponding water equivalents at Little America V; ice temperature at various deoths at both stations; and depth-inclination measurements as well as the diam-vs-depth curve at Burd Station. The future research program at Little America V is outlined.

File
URL
Special Collections CRREL Reports
Categories Deep Drilling
Citation Richard H Ragle , B Lyle Hansen, Anthony J Gow, Robert W Patenaude ( 1960 ) Deep Core Drilling in the Ross Ice Shelf, Little America V, Antarctica. U.S. SIPRE Technical Report 70 , 1-10 .
Lead Author
Richard H Ragle