Ice Drilling Program

The intellectual merit of this project is embodied in the four closely linked leadership goals of this project which include: 1) producing and maintaining long-term and short-term integrated science and drilling technology plans in collaboration with the U.S. and international ice coring and drilling research communities, 2) providing field support with drilling equipment and expertise to support NSF-funded science, 3) identifying new technology needs and seeking funding for technology development and acquisition, and 4) enhancing communication and information exchange related to ice coring and drilling science and technology within the US and international ice science community.

These goals relate to the importance of evidence from the polar ice sheets from ice cores, subglacial bedrock cores, and boreholes to access the subglacial aqueous environment, which has led to many important discoveries that have revolutionized climate science. These discoveries have also had important impacts on policy and thus also have societal relevance. Continued U.S. scientific leadership in this area depends critically not only on the support of scientists doing this research but also on the continued support of a dedicated facility to provide the field drilling support and accomplish engineering and technology development activities.