Project Title

Collaborative Research: Sensitivity of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet to 2 Celsius (SWAIS 2C)

Summary

Event Number:
G-070-M
NSF / OPP Award 2035035

Program Director:
Dr. Kelly Brunt

ASC POC/Implementer:
Marissa Goerke / Jenny Cunningham

Principal Investigator(s)

Dr. Molly O'Rourke Patterson
patterso@binghamton.edu
Geosciences
Binghamton, New York

Project Web Site:
https://www.swais2c.aq/our-science

Location

Supporting Stations: McMurdo Station
Research Locations: Scott Base, West Antarctica, Crary Ice Rise

Description

The SWAIS2C project was developed through international collaboration to better forecast the size and timing of future ice-sheet change. SWAIS2C scientists will collect and study geological (rocks), glaciological (ice), and geophysical (Earth physical properties) data and provide new information to guide the development of numerical models to better understand and predict how the ice sheet on West Antarctica will contribute to future sea level rise. The project’s drilling campaign aims to recover ~200-meter sediment cores from two locations beneath the eastern edge of the Ross Ice Shelf, designated as the Kamb Ice Stream (KIS-3) and Crary Ice Rise (CIR-1) field sites. This project, in collaboration with 10 nations and Antarctica New Zealand (AntNZ) acting as project operator for coordination and most logistical needs, is supporting a US scientific team. Key goals of the US participation are to bring a range of scientific expertise to the project and broaden involvement of early career scientists in Antarctic research.

Field Season Overview

The AntNZ's SWAIS2C drilling campaign aims to recover a 200-meter-long sediment drill core from the Crary Ice Rise (CIR). Three US scientists will deploy to Antarctica via United States Antarctica Program (USAP) transportation with USAP extreme cold weather gear then embed with the AntNZ SWAIS2C team at Scott Base. The team, along with AntNZ colleagues, will put in to CIR to engage in drilling and core sampling activities. All support at the field site will be provided by AntNZ. USAP will provide all fixed wing support for the SWAIS2C effort, consisting of up to 10 roundtrip Basler aircraft missions between McMurdo Station and CIR.

Deploying Team Members