The SUBGLACIOR drilling probe: concept and design

Title The SUBGLACIOR drilling probe: concept and design
Publication Type
Journal Article
Year
2014
Author(s) Olivier Alemany , Jérôme Chappellaz, Jack Triest, Calzas M, Cattani O, Chemin JF, Desbois Q, Desbois T, Romain Duphil, Falourd S, Grilli R, Guillerme C, Kerstel E, Laurent B, Eric Lefebvre, Marrocco N, Pascual O, Luc Piard, Philippe Possenti, Romanini D, Thiebaut V, Yamani R
Journal/ Publication
Annals of Glaciology
Volume
55
Issue
68
Pagination
233-242
Abstract

In response to the ‘oldest ice’ challenge initiated by the International Partnerships in Ice Core Sciences (IPICS), new rapid-access drilling technologies through glacier ice need to be developed. These will provide the information needed to qualify potential sites on the Antarctic ice sheet where the deepest section could include ice that is >1Ma old and still in good stratigraphic order. Identifying a suitable site will be a prerequisite for deploying a multi-year deep ice-core drilling operation to elucidate the cause and mechanisms of the mid-Pleistocene transition from 40 ka glacial–interglacial cycles to 100 ka cycles. As part of the ICE&LASERS/SUBGLACIOR projects, we have designed an innovative probe, SUBGLACIOR, with the aim of perforating the ice sheet down to the bedrock in a single season and continuously measuring in situ the isotopic composition of the melted water and the methane concentration in trapped gases. Here we present the general concept of the probe, as well as the various technological solutions that we have favored so far to reach this goal.

DOI
10.3189/2014AoG68A026
File
URL
Special Collections International Workshop on Ice Drilling Technology Series, 7th International Workshop on Ice Drilling Technology
Categories Deep Drilling, Fast Access, Thermal Drilling
Equipment SUBGLACIOR probe
Citation Olivier Alemany , Jérôme Chappellaz, Jack Triest, Calzas M, Cattani O, Chemin JF, Desbois Q, Desbois T, Romain Duphil, Falourd S, Grilli R, Guillerme C, Kerstel E, Laurent B, Eric Lefebvre, Marrocco N, Pascual O, Luc Piard, Philippe Possenti, Romanini D, Thiebaut V, Yamani R ( 2014 ) The SUBGLACIOR drilling probe: concept and design. Annals of Glaciology , 55 , 68 , 233-242 . doi: 10.3189/2014AoG68A026
Lead Author
Olivier Alemany