US ITASE Logo

US ITASE Scientific Contributions

To date 75 scientific products (abstracts, papers, reports) have been produced by research teams involved in US ITASE (for detailed citations please refer to Publications). In the process US ITASE has made several major scientific contributions (examples of citations from the literature included).

  1. ground-truth for RADARSAT and other high resolution satellite imagery (Shuman and Comiso, 2001; Guo et al., 2003; Hamilton and Spikes, 2002; Stearns et al., to be submitted, Hamilton, 2001; Schneider and Steig, in review; Schneider et al., in prep.)
  2. identification of surface and deep radar reflectors as continuous time stratigraphic horizons across the thousands of km of traverse route (Arcone, 2002; Arcone et al., 2001a, b, c; Arcone, 2002a, b Spikes et al., 2001, 2002; Hamilton et al., 2000)

  3. ice core calibration of radar reflectors in the upper 100 meters of the ice sheet to determine the source of these relectors (Arcone, 2002; (Arcone et al., 2001a, b, 2002)

  4. examination of spatial variability in major ions over west Antarctica and relationship to sources (Kreutz and Mayewski, 1999; Kreutz et al., 1999, 2000; Dixon et al., 2001; Isaakson et al., 2001; Kaspari et al., 2002)

  5. ice core reconstructions of seasonal, interannual and decadal scale variability in accumulation rate, temperature, atmospheric circulation, volcanic activity, and sea ice extent and relation to models (Kreutz and Mayewski, 1999; Reusch et al., 1999; Hamitlton et al., 2000; Qin et al., 2000; Guo et al., in review; Guo et al., 2002; Meese and Gow, 2002; Meyerson et al., in review; Isaakson et al., 2001; Souney et al., in review; Palmer et al., 2001; Isaakson et al., 2001; Steig, et al., in prep.; Dixon et al., 2002)

  6. identification of ENSO, ACW (Antarctic circumpolar Wave), PDO (Pacific Decadal Oscillation), EAH (East Antarctic High), and ASL (Amundsen Sea Low) atmospheric circulation structure in glaciochemical time-series and implications and relationship to models (Kreutz et al., 2000; Mayewski and White, 2002; Meyerson et al., 2002, in review; Bromwich et al., 1999, 2003; Mayewski et al., 2001, Steig et al., 2001, 2002, Souney et al., in review; Goodwin et al., in review)

  7. assessment of modern global climate change (short-term variability in snowfall, temperature, and atmospheric circulation, pollution) in the context of decadal to centennial-scale variability (Reusch et al., 1999; Qin et al., 1999; Hamilton et al., 2000; SCAR ISMASS Committee (include. G. Hamilton, to be submitted; Meese and Gow, 2002)

  8. deconvolution of local-scale variability in ice core-derived accumulation rate compared to regional scale variability (Hamilton et al., 2000, Arcone et al., 2002)

  9. glaciological reconnaissance for deep drilling (Hamilton et al., to be submitted; Frey et al., 2002)

  10. high resolution mapping of subglacial topography in previously unexplored regions (Welch and Jacobel, 2001, 2002)

  11. characterization of ice flow dynamics based on deformation of internal stratigraphy, basal and ice surface topography (Hamilton and Whillans, to be submitted, Welch and Jacobel, 2001, 2002)

  12. characterization of basal reflectivity based on changes in basal temperature and/or geology (Welch and Jacobel, 2001, 2002)

  13. identification of zones of basal melting in the interior of West Antarctica and ice stream shear along the coast utilizing satellite-derived (GPS) ice flow measurements (Hamilton and Whillans, to be submitted)

  14. air sampling in the interior of West Antarctica and air snow processes (Frey et al., 2001, 2002, Albert, to be submitted; Albert and Leeman, 2002)

  15. snow and firn permeability and microstructure measurements at locations with greatly differing accumulation rates and average temperature (Albert, 2001, 2002; Albert and Leeman, 2002, in prep.)

  16. physical property measurements of annual layer stratigraphy, depth/density profiles and crystal growth profiles as a function of age and in situ temperature in snowpits and ice cores (Gow and Meese, 2002)

US ITASE Technical and Logistical Accomplishments (1999-2003)


By the completion of the 2001-2002 field season US ITASE will have accomplished the following technical and logistical activities.
  1. The traverse traveled a total of ~5500 km sampling a significant portion of West Antarctica (Figure 1).

  2. Identification of radar reflectors as continuous time stratigraphic horizons across the thousands of km of traverse route based on precise ice core calibration of these reflectors.

  3. 15 science sites occupied for periods of 2-6 days depending upon workload per site.

  4. A total of ~2100 m of ice core recovered utilizing both the 3” diameter Eclipse drill purchased by NSF for use by US ITASE and a 2.2” diameter lightweight drill built by Glacier Data for the University of Maine. A total of twenty 3” diameter ice cores collected from 20 sites covering a minimum of 200 years (typically >500-1000 years). Ice cores sampled at NICL for chemistry, stable isotopes, density and total b activity.

  5. Permeability and porosity experiments conducted from 10 snowpits and nine 20 m ice cores were collected.

  6. Stratigraphy sampled at all sites utilizing snowpits excavated either exclusively for this purpose, or snowpits excavated as access for 3” ice coring, or ~10 m wide pits excavated using a Challenger 55.

  7. 60 days of atmospheric and shallow chemistry observations conducted at 15 sites. Sampling included real-time, continuous observations of peroxides (H2O2 and organic peroxides), formaldehyde and ozone near surface and ozone profiles up to an altitude of 23 km.

  8. Basic meteorological observations collected at all sites and 10 m depth temperatures for comparison with infrared satellite estimates of mean annual temperature.

  9. 18 high precision GPS ‘coffee can’ experiments deployed to measure mass balance.

  10. Three AWS deployed close to the proposed inland deep drilling WAIS site.

  11. Snow and firn permeability and microstructure measurements at locations with greatly differing accumulation rates and average temperature.

  12. Numerical modeling of water vapor transport and sublimation rates in firn.

  13. Characterization of ice flow dynamics based on deformation of internal stratigraphy, basal and ice surface topography.

  14. Characterization of basal reflectivity based on changes in basal temperature and/or geology.

  15. The traverse traveled a total of ~5500 km sampling a significant portion of West Antarctica (Figure 1).

  16. Identification of radar reflectors as continuous time stratigraphic horizons across the thousands of km of traverse route based on precise ice core calibration of these reflectors.

  17. 15 science sites occupied for periods of 2-6 days depending upon workload per site.

  18. A total of ~2100 m of ice core recovered utilizing both the 3” diameter Eclipse drill purchased by NSF for use by US ITASE and a 2.2” diameter lightweight drill built by Glacier Data for the University of Maine. A total of twenty 3” diameter ice cores collected from 20 sites covering a minimum of 200 years (typically >500-1000 years). Ice cores sampled at NICL for chemistry, stable isotopes, density and total b activity.

  19. Permeability and porosity experiments conducted from 10 snowpits and nine 20 m ice cores were collected.

  20. Stratigraphy sampled at all sites utilizing snowpits excavated either exclusively for this purpose, or snowpits excavated as access for 3” ice coring, or ~10 m wide pits excavated using a Challenger 55.

  21. 60 days of atmospheric and shallow chemistry observations conducted at 15 sites. Sampling included real-time, continuous observations of peroxides (H2O2 and organic peroxides), formaldehyde and ozone near surface and ozone profiles up to an altitude of 23 km.

  22. Basic meteorological observations collected at all sites and 10 m depth temperatures for comparison with infrared satellite estimates of mean annual temperature.

  23. 18 high precision GPS ‘coffee can’ experiments deployed to measure mass balance.

  24. Three AWS deployed close to the proposed inland deep drilling WAIS site.

  25. Snow and firn permeability and microstructure measurements at locations with greatly differing accumulation rates and average temperature.

  26. Numerical modeling of water vapor transport and sublimation rates in firn.

  27. Characterization of ice flow dynamics based on deformation of internal stratigraphy, basal and ice surface topography.

  28. Characterization of basal reflectivity based on changes in basal temperature and/or geology.

  29. The traverse traveled a total of ~5500 km sampling a significant portion of West Antarctica (Figure 1).

  30. Identification of radar reflectors as continuous time stratigraphic horizons across the thousands of km of traverse route based on precise ice core calibration of these reflectors.

  31. 15 science sites occupied for periods of 2-6 days depending upon workload per site.

  32. A total of ~2100 m of ice core recovered utilizing both the 3” diameter Eclipse drill purchased by NSF for use by US ITASE and a 2.2” diameter lightweight drill built by Glacier Data for the University of Maine. A total of twenty 3” diameter ice cores collected from 20 sites covering a minimum of 200 years (typically >500-1000 years). Ice cores sampled at NICL for chemistry, stable isotopes, density and total b activity.

  33. Permeability and porosity experiments conducted from 10 snowpits and nine 20 m ice cores were collected.

  34. Stratigraphy sampled at all sites utilizing snowpits excavated either exclusively for this purpose, or snowpits excavated as access for 3” ice coring, or ~10 m wide pits excavated using a Challenger 55.

  35. 60 days of atmospheric and shallow chemistry observations conducted at 15 sites. Sampling included real-time, continuous observations of peroxides (H2O2 and organic peroxides), formaldehyde and ozone near surface and ozone profiles up to an altitude of 23 km.

  36. Basic meteorological observations collected at all sites and 10 m depth temperatures for comparison with infrared satellite estimates of mean annual temperature.

  37. 18 high precision GPS ‘coffee can’ experiments deployed to measure mass balance.

  38. Three AWS deployed close to the proposed inland deep drilling WAIS site.

  39. Snow and firn permeability and microstructure measurements at locations with greatly differing accumulation rates and average temperature.

  40. Numerical modeling of water vapor transport and sublimation rates in firn.

  41. Characterization of ice flow dynamics based on deformation of internal stratigraphy, basal and ice surface topography.

  42. Characterization of basal reflectivity based on changes in basal temperature and/or geology.