The SUBGLACIOR drilling probe: concept and design

Alemany, Olivier; Chappellaz, J.; Triest, Jack; Calzas, Michel; Cattani, O.; Chemin, J.F.; Desbois, Q.; Desbois, Thibault; Duphil, R.; Falourd, S.; Grilli, Roberto; Guillerme, C.; Kerstel, Erik; Laurent, B.; Lefebvre, E.; Marrocco, N.; Pascual, O.; Piard, Luc; Possenti, Philippe; Romanini, D.; Thiebaut, V.; Yamani, R.

doi:10.3189/2014aog68a026

Cited by 22 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 13 publications

(18 reference statements)

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“…1) was first defined from the joint SPRI/NSF/TUD airborne surveys of the 1970s (Drewry and Jordan, 1983). These pioneering airborne radar altimetry and radar sounding observations predated GPS, and aircraft positions were constrained by pressure altimetry and inertial navigation systems with large uncertainties; however, subsequent ground-based traverses and satellite radar altimetry (Bamber, 1994) confirmed the presence of the dome. As a site of thick ice, low accumulation, and slow ice flow, it was a promising site for ice coring, with the first cores in the region acquired in 1977-1978(Lorius et al, 1979.…”

Section: Previous Data Setsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response to reviews on "High resolution boundary conditions of an old ice target near Dome C, Antarctica"

Young¹

2017

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A high-resolution (1 km line spacing) aerogeophysical survey was conducted over a region near the East Antarctic Ice Sheet's Dome C that may hold a 1.5 Myr climate record. We combined new ice thickness data derived from an airborne coherent radar sounder with unpublished data that was in part unavailable for earlier compilations, and we were able to remove older data with high positional uncertainties. We generated a revised high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) to investigate the potential for an old ice record in this region, and used laser altimetry to confirm a Cryosat-2 derived DEM for inferring the glaciological state of the candidate area. By measuring the specularity content of the bed, we were able to find an additional 50 subglacial lakes near the candidate site, and by Doppler focusing the radar data, we were able to map out the roughness of the bed at length scales of hundreds of meters.We find that the primary candidate region contains elevated rough topography interspersed with scattered subglacial lakes and some regions of smoother bed. Free subglacial water appears to be restricted from bed overlain by ice thicknesses of less than 3000 m. A site near the ice divide was selected for further investigation. The high resolution of this ice thickness data set also allows us to explore the nature of ice thickness uncertainties in the context of radar geometry and processing.

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Section: Previous Data Setsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response to reviews on "High resolution boundary conditions of an old ice target near Dome C, Antarctica"

Young¹

2017

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“…The SUBGLACIOR probe (in SitU proBing of GLACier Ice for a better understanding of the Orbital Response of climate) is being designed to drill down to 3500 m in a continuous run by electromechanical drilling and pumping the generated ice chips to the surface by circulating a drill fluid (Alemany and others, 2014). Three main elements of the probe are a drill head with melt-tip; a sample-handling system; and a laser spectrometer for in situ measurements.…”

Section: Specific Drill Fluid Requirements and Constraintsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drill fluid selection for the SUBGLACIOR probe: a review of silicone oil as a drill fluid

Triest

Alemany

2014

Ann. Glaciol.

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As part of the ICE&LASER/SUBGLACIOR projects, an innovative probe called SUB-GLACIOR is developed with the aim of perforating the ice sheet down to depths of 3500 m in a single season and continuously measuring in situ the isotopic composition of the meltwater and the methane concentration in trapped gases. Ice chips generated by the electromechanical drilling will be removed from the borehole by circulating a drill fluid. The selection of this drill fluid is important as it will have a major impact on the performance and the environmental evaluation. A literature review of drilling liquids is carried out to select potential fluids for further detailed testing. The selected fluids are varying grades of silicone oils, known as linear polydimethylsiloxanes, and ESTISOL™ 140, an aliphatic ester. The requirements for this project are similar to those for other deep ice-core drilling projects but, due to the embedded analytical system and the speed of drilling, there are some specific considerations. Following extensive testing, we conclude that a silicone fluid with a kinematic viscosity of 3 mm 2 s -1 (3 cSt) is ideally suitable and affordable. This evaluation provides new insights into the use of silicone oils as a drill fluid that are of use to the wider ice-core drilling community.

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“…The drilling speed should allow 3 km of ice to be drilled through in <90 days. The system fits into eight containers, four of which contain the drilling fluid (Alemany and others, 2014). The weight of the system is ≈20 tonnes, without fluid (personal correspondence from O. Alemany, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of the British Antarctic Survey Rapid Access Isotope Drill

et al. 2019

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The British Antarctic Survey Rapid Access Isotope Drill is an innovative new class of electromechanical ice drill, which has recently been used to drill the deepest dry hole drilled by an electromechanical auger drill. The record-breaking depth of 461.58 m was drilled in just over 104 hours at Little Dome C. The drill collects ice chippings, for water stable isotope analysis, rather than an ice core. By not collecting a core the winch can be geared for speed rather than core breaking and is lightweight. Furthermore, emptying of the chippings is performed by simply reversing the drill motor on the surface reducing the overall drilling time significantly. The borehole is then available for instrumentation. We describe the drill in its current state including modifications carried out since it was last deployed. Test seasons and the lessons learned from each are outlined. Finally, future developments for this class of drill are discussed.

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The SUBGLACIOR drilling probe: concept and design

Abstract: International audienc

Cited by 22 publications

References 13 publications

Response to reviews on "High resolution boundary conditions of an old ice target near Dome C, Antarctica"

Response to reviews on "High resolution boundary conditions of an old ice target near Dome C, Antarctica"

Drill fluid selection for the SUBGLACIOR probe: a review of silicone oil as a drill fluid

Development of the British Antarctic Survey Rapid Access Isotope Drill

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