Snow accumulation rates typically show high variability over short distances. This data set contains accumulation rates using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to detect isochronal layers in the firn in West Antarctica. These layers were then dated using results from ice core analyses. These data show that accumulation rates along this profile have decreased in recent decades. The radar profile extends between two ice core sites taken along one of the US-ITASE traverse routes.
US International Trans-Antarctic Scientific Expedition (US ITASE): GPR Profiles and Accumulation Mapping, Version 1
NSIDC does not archive these data.
|
Geographic Coverage |
Detailed Data Description
Data are available as a tab-delimited ASCII file and an Excel spreadsheet.
The below map shows the location of the study area. The dashed lines are ITASE traverse routes. The solid line represents the section of the traverse between ice core sites 00-4 and 00-5, the GPR transect. The figure and caption are taken from Spikes et al. (2004).
Location maps and ice core data. a) Continent-scale map of Antarctica. b) Portion of West Antarctica (boxed region in a) showing some of the US ITASE traverse routes (white lines). Red circles indicate where ice cores were collected. The solid white line represents the transect along which the radar profile was collected between 00-4 and 00-5. The white arrow indicates the direction of travel during data acquisition. The shaded relief map was generated from a digital elevation model (Liu et al. 1999), which was also used to estimate ice flow directions at 00-4 and 00-5 (black arrows). c) Ice core density and chemistry (nssSO42-) profiles for 00-4 (blue) and 00-5 (red).
See Absolute Earth™ - Antarctic Snow Accumulation to download an interactive map of Antarctica that shows ice core locations. Absolute Earth™ is a proprietary line of Global Information Systems used to gather, process, store, manipulate, interpret, visualize, and disseminate any georeferenced data. Absolute Earth products are intended to make geographically-based information available to all people, regardless of background or skill level. These extremely flexible products merge advanced web applications with desktop software, network databases, and Earth visualization technologies.
ITASE_accumulation_004_005.txt
: 1.1MBITASE_accumulation_004_005.xls
: 2.0MB
The distance along the transect is 100 km.
Core Site 00-4 Location: | 78.0832°S | 120.082°W |
---|---|---|
Core Site 00-5 Location: | 77.6832°S | 123.993°W |
Data were collected in December 2000.
Sample Data Record
Traces were measured from core 00-4 to 00-5. Time is given in seconds for the day tied to GMT. Distance is in km along the track. Accumulation rates are presented as water equivalent (m/year). The years represent either a horizon age (for example, 1966, which is the amount of accumulation that occurred between 1966 and 2000) or the amount of accumulation between two horizons (for example, 1941-1966).
Trace# |
Time(sec) |
Longitude |
Latitude |
X(km) |
Y(km) |
Elevation(m) |
Distance(km) |
1966(m/a) |
1941(m/a) |
1893(m/a) |
1848(m/a) |
1815(m/a) |
1941-1966 |
1893-1941 |
1848-1893 |
1815-1848 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
85265.7 |
-120.0821281 |
-78.08317476 |
-1124.287 |
-651.258 |
1697.19 |
0.04 |
0.18671053 |
0.19447709 |
0.19273349 |
0.19189462 |
0.19329594 |
0.20535027 |
0.19055399 |
0.18988135 |
0.19979295 |
2 |
85270.3 |
-120.0822793 |
-78.08315856 |
-1124.287 |
-651.262 |
1697.19 |
0.05 |
0.1867103 |
0.19447698 |
0.19273351 |
0.19189469 |
0.19329601 |
0.20535033 |
0.19055417 |
0.18988153 |
0.19979305 |
3 |
85275 |
-120.0824306 |
-78.08314236 |
-1124.286 |
-651.265 |
1697.19 |
0.05 |
0.18671364 |
0.19447698 |
0.19273351 |
0.19189469 |
0.19329601 |
0.20534566 |
0.19055417 |
0.18988153 |
0.19979305 |
4 |
85279.7 |
-120.0825818 |
-78.08312616 |
-1124.286 |
-651.269 |
1697.18 |
0.06 |
0.18675183 |
0.19447688 |
0.19273353 |
0.19189476 |
0.19329609 |
0.20529195 |
0.19055434 |
0.1898817 |
0.19979316 |
Software and Tools
Data Acquisition and Processing
Data were acquired using ground-penetrating radar (GPR). The isochronal layers in the firn were dated using results from ice core analyses.
References and Related Publications
Contacts and Acknowledgments
Vandy B. Spikes, Gordon S. Hamilton, Paul A. Mayewski, and Susan Kaspari
Climate Change Institute
Department of Earth Sciences
University of Maine
Orono, ME, USA
Steven A. Arcone
U.S. Army ERDC, Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory
Hanover, NH, USA
This research was supported by:
-
Distribution of Snow Accumulation and Mass Balance across the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Principal Investigator: Vandy Blue Spikes, University of Maine. NASA Fellowship Award Number ESS/01-0000-0097.
-
High Resolution Radar Profiling of the Snow and Ice Stratigraphy beneath the ITASE Traverses, West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Principal Investigator: Steven A. Arcone, U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory. National Science Foundation OPP award #0088035
-
Mass Balance and Accumulation Rate Along US ITASE Routes. Principal Investigator: Gordon S. Hamilton, University of Maine. National Science Foundation OPP award #0196441
-
US ITASE Glaciochemistry. Principal Investigator: Paul A. Mayewski, University of Maine. National Science Foundation OPP award #0096299
-
US ITASE SMO: A Collaborative Program of Research from South Pole to Northern Victoria Land. Pinciple Investigator: Paul A. Mayewski, University of Maine. National Science Foundation OPP award #0229573
Document Information
DOCUMENT CREATION DATE
March 2005
NSIDC User Services
Phone: 1 303 492-6199
Email: nsidc@nsidc.org