CORE DRILLING THROUGH THE ANTARCTIC ICE SHEET.
Abstract
The Antarctic ice sheet was penetrated by core drilling at Byrd Station during the 1967-68 austral summer. Cores 10 to 20 ft long averaging 4 1/4 in. diam were recovered over 99% of the depth. Drill cuttings were dissolved in an aqueous ethylene glycol solution circulated at the bottom of the hole and returned to the surface in the drill bailer on each coring run. Liquid water, indicative of pressure melting at the bottom of the ice sheet, was encountered at 7101 ft. Ice temperatures increased steadily from a minimum of -28.8 deg C at 2400 ft to -13.0 deg C at 5942 ft, where temperature measurement ceased. The heat flow for this location is estimated to be 1.8 microcal/sq cm/sec.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0700998
Entities
People
- Donald E. Garfield
- Herbert T. Ueda
Organizations
- Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory