Mapping the suitability for ice-core drilling of glaciers in the European Alps and the Asian High Mountains

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Ice cores from mid-latitude mountain glaciers provide detailed information on past climate conditions and regional environmental changes, which is essential for placing current climate change into a longer term perspective. In this context, it is important to define guidelines and create dedicated maps to identify suitable areas for future ice-core drillings. In this study, the suitability for ice-core drilling (SICD) of a mountain glacier is defined as the possibility of extracting an ice core with preserved stratigraphy suitable for reconstructing past climate. Morphometric and climatic variables related to SICD are selected through literature review and characterization of previously drilled sites. A quantitative Weight of Evidence method is proposed to combine selected variables (i.e. slope, local relief, temperature and direct solar radiation) to map the potential drilling sites in mid-latitude mountain glaciers. The method was first developed in the European Alps and then applied to the Asian High Mountains. Model performances and limitations are discussed and first indications of new potential drilling sites in the Asian High Mountains are provided. Results presented here can facilitate the selection of future drilling sites especially on unexplored Asian mountain glaciers towards the understanding of climate and environmental changes.

The case of a southern European glacier disappearing under recent warming that survived Roman and Medieval warm periods

“…1). Unfortunately, none of the glacio-meteorological and topographical criteria required to obtain a preserved ice-core stratigraphy, such as low temperatures to prevent water percolation, or a large extension and flat surface topography to minimize the influence of glacier flow (Garzonio et al, 2018), are currently met in the glacier. With this technique, only three short ice cores of 4, 3 and 2 m in length could be recovered, which could not provide a complete chrono-stratigraphical ice sequence.…”

A pilot study of eDNA metabarcoding to estimate plant biodiversity by an alpine glacier core (Adamello glacier, North Italy)

“…This situation creates both public and scientific concern, underlining the need for a detailed investigation of glacier content. Ice core studies from the Alps already highlighted that alpine glaciers are capable of retaining useful climatic information and long time series 46 – 49 , setting the base for further research aimed to rescue alpine ice cores 50 . Investigating both, the biotic and abiotic component included in glaciers may provide the opportunity to directly link paleo-environmental information (obtained by eDNA analyses) to climatic information (gained from stable isotopes and geochemical proxies).…”

Quantifying ice storage in upper Indus river basin using ground‐penetrating radar measurements and glacier bed topography model version 2

“…Currently, the approaches implemented to deduce ice reserve involve using geodetic surveying, semi‐empirical formula and physical models (Farinotti et al, 2017). Ice core drilling, use of gravimeter and GPR technique can be classified as geodetic surveying; due to the high cost, the drilling technique is only used as an auxiliary medium, even though it is the most intuitive method and has the highest precision (Garzonio et al, 2018). The GPR technique is a radio‐echo detection method that uses electromagnetic waves to measure the ice thickness, its high‐resolution accuracy and efficiency in noninvasive subsurface ensures better results.…”