Development of the British Antarctic Survey Rapid Access Isotope Drill

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

Continuous flow analysis methods for sodium, magnesium and calcium detection in the Skytrain ice core

Dissolved and particulate sodium, magnesium and calcium are analyzed in ice cores to determine past changes in sea ice extent, terrestrial dust variability and atmospheric aerosol transport efficiency. They are also used to date ice cores if annual layers are visible. Multiple methods have been developed to analyze these important compounds in ice cores. Continuous flow analysis (CFA) is implemented with instruments that sample the meltstream continuously. In this study, CFA with ICP-MS (inductively coupled-plasma mass spectrometry) and fast ion chromatography (FIC) methods are compared for analysis of sodium and magnesium. ICP-MS, FIC and fluorescence methods are compared for analysis of calcium. Respective analysis of a 10 m section of the Antarctic WACSWAIN Skytrain Ice Rise ice core shows that all of the methods result in similar levels of the compounds. The ICP-MS method is the most suitable for analysis of the Skytrain ice core due to its superior precision (relative standard deviation: 1.6% for Na, 1.3% for Mg and 1.2% for Ca) and sampling frequency compared to the FIC method. The fluorescence detection method may be preferred for calcium analysis due to its higher depth resolution (1.4 cm) relative to the ICP-MS and FIC methods (~4 cm)

Ages of internal reflecting horizons in the Dome C region of Antarctica

This dataset consists of radar IRHs (internal reflecting horizons) which were traced across ice-penetrating radar surveys conducted between 2016 and 2018 over the Dome C region of the East Antarctic Plateau. The dataset is associated with the publication Chung et al. (2023). The data was collected during two radar surveys conducted in the Antarctic field seasons of 2016-17 and 2017-18 using the sledge-borne DEep LOoking Radio Echo Sounder (DELORES) from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). The surveys covered two areas around Dome C which were identified as potential drill sites for the Beyond EPICA Oldest Ice drilling project - Little Dome C (LDC) and North Patch (NP). The LDC area is covered by a dense network of 116 radar transects, mostly organised as a grid, with denser data acquisition in areas of particular interest. At NP a grid of 21 radar transects were collected, covering an area of approximately 5×5 km^2. In this radar dataset, 20 IRHs and the ice-bed interface were manually traced, using the Petrel E&P Software Platform by Schlumberger. IRHs were linked from LDC to the EDC ice core site using the 3 radar transects (DC-LDCRAID2, DC_LDCRAID, DC_LDC_DIVIDE) and from NP to EDC using 1 radar transect link (DC_PNV09B). Ages for IRHs were then calculated by linearly interpolating the EDC age-depth timescale from AICC2012 (Bazin et al., 2013) where the IRHs are closest to the ice core site. The age of each IRH is obtained by first calculating the average of the ages obtained from the three EDC–LDC radar intersections, and then averaging with the EDC–NP intersection. IRH ages and uncertainties (in ka BP - before 1950) are provided in the ages text file

Internal reflecting horizon 11 in the Dome C region of Antarctica

This dataset consists of radar IRHs (internal reflecting horizons) which were traced across ice-penetrating radar surveys conducted between 2016 and 2018 over the Dome C region of the East Antarctic Plateau. The dataset is associated with the publication Chung et al. (2023). The data was collected during two radar surveys conducted in the Antarctic field seasons of 2016-17 and 2017-18 using the sledge-borne DEep LOoking Radio Echo Sounder (DELORES) from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). The surveys covered two areas around Dome C which were identified as potential drill sites for the Beyond EPICA Oldest Ice drilling project - Little Dome C (LDC) and North Patch (NP). The LDC area is covered by a dense network of 116 radar transects, mostly organised as a grid, with denser data acquisition in areas of particular interest. At NP a grid of 21 radar transects were collected, covering an area of approximately 5×5 km^2. In this radar dataset, 20 IRHs and the ice-bed interface were manually traced, using the Petrel E&P Software Platform by Schlumberger. A single file for each IRH is provided in a .txt file, tab separated format with both two-way travel time and depth. The conversion done using c = 0.1685 m/us and firn correction of 10 m. The 20 IRHs are provided at 5 m along-track resolution

Internal reflecting horizon 8 in the Dome C region of Antarctica

This dataset consists of radar IRHs (internal reflecting horizons) which were traced across ice-penetrating radar surveys conducted between 2016 and 2018 over the Dome C region of the East Antarctic Plateau. The dataset is associated with the publication Chung et al. (2023). The data was collected during two radar surveys conducted in the Antarctic field seasons of 2016-17 and 2017-18 using the sledge-borne DEep LOoking Radio Echo Sounder (DELORES) from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). The surveys covered two areas around Dome C which were identified as potential drill sites for the Beyond EPICA Oldest Ice drilling project - Little Dome C (LDC) and North Patch (NP). The LDC area is covered by a dense network of 116 radar transects, mostly organised as a grid, with denser data acquisition in areas of particular interest. At NP a grid of 21 radar transects were collected, covering an area of approximately 5×5 km^2. In this radar dataset, 20 IRHs and the ice-bed interface were manually traced, using the Petrel E&P Software Platform by Schlumberger. A single file for each IRH is provided in a .txt file, tab separated format with both two-way travel time and depth. The conversion done using c = 0.1685 m/us and firn correction of 10 m. The 20 IRHs are provided at 5 m along-track resolution

Internal reflecting horizon 14 in the Dome C region of Antarctica

This dataset consists of radar IRHs (internal reflecting horizons) which were traced across ice-penetrating radar surveys conducted between 2016 and 2018 over the Dome C region of the East Antarctic Plateau. The dataset is associated with the publication Chung et al. (2023). The data was collected during two radar surveys conducted in the Antarctic field seasons of 2016-17 and 2017-18 using the sledge-borne DEep LOoking Radio Echo Sounder (DELORES) from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). The surveys covered two areas around Dome C which were identified as potential drill sites for the Beyond EPICA Oldest Ice drilling project - Little Dome C (LDC) and North Patch (NP). The LDC area is covered by a dense network of 116 radar transects, mostly organised as a grid, with denser data acquisition in areas of particular interest. At NP a grid of 21 radar transects were collected, covering an area of approximately 5×5 km^2. In this radar dataset, 20 IRHs and the ice-bed interface were manually traced, using the Petrel E&P Software Platform by Schlumberger. A single file for each IRH is provided in a .txt file, tab separated format with both two-way travel time and depth. The conversion done using c = 0.1685 m/us and firn correction of 10 m. The 20 IRHs are provided at 5 m along-track resolution

DEEPER: The Drill for Extensive Exploration of Planetary Environments Using Robots

Landed missions which seek to explore ever-greater depths beneath planetary subsurfaces must manage the risks associated with this challenging task. When developing the most appropriate mission architecture, the designer must consider two options in the trade-off study: the use of heritage technologies such as the mass and volume-intensive hardware of ‘classical’ drill string assembly, or the adoption of novel technologies such as the wireline or coiled tube drilling approach. In order to address future European exploration goals, the European Space Agency (ESA) have proposed the development of a drill which shall enable exploration to 20\ m through the use of a coiled tube system. The ‘Drill for Extensive Exploration of Planetary Environments using Robots’ (DEEPER) project is being delivered by a U.K. consortium including the University of Glasgow, the British Antarctic Survey, and Apogee Engineering Ltd. The team seeks to mature the baseline concept by developing a breadboard, which shall be tested both in the laboratory and in the field. This paper details the progress made to date, noting the challenges which have been identified and overcome ahead of manufacture

Internal reflecting horizon 20 in the Dome C region of Antarctica

This dataset consists of radar IRHs (internal reflecting horizons) which were traced across ice-penetrating radar surveys conducted between 2016 and 2018 over the Dome C region of the East Antarctic Plateau. The dataset is associated with the publication Chung et al. (2023). The data was collected during two radar surveys conducted in the Antarctic field seasons of 2016-17 and 2017-18 using the sledge-borne DEep LOoking Radio Echo Sounder (DELORES) from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). The surveys covered two areas around Dome C which were identified as potential drill sites for the Beyond EPICA Oldest Ice drilling project - Little Dome C (LDC) and North Patch (NP). The LDC area is covered by a dense network of 116 radar transects, mostly organised as a grid, with denser data acquisition in areas of particular interest. At NP a grid of 21 radar transects were collected, covering an area of approximately 5×5 km^2. In this radar dataset, 20 IRHs and the ice-bed interface were manually traced, using the Petrel E&P Software Platform by Schlumberger. A single file for each IRH is provided in a .txt file, tab separated format with both two-way travel time and depth. The conversion done using c = 0.1685 m/us and firn correction of 10 m. The 20 IRHs are provided at 5 m along-track resolution

Internal reflecting horizon 7 in the Dome C region of Antarctica

This dataset consists of radar IRHs (internal reflecting horizons) which were traced across ice-penetrating radar surveys conducted between 2016 and 2018 over the Dome C region of the East Antarctic Plateau. The dataset is associated with the publication Chung et al. (2023). The data was collected during two radar surveys conducted in the Antarctic field seasons of 2016-17 and 2017-18 using the sledge-borne DEep LOoking Radio Echo Sounder (DELORES) from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). The surveys covered two areas around Dome C which were identified as potential drill sites for the Beyond EPICA Oldest Ice drilling project - Little Dome C (LDC) and North Patch (NP). The LDC area is covered by a dense network of 116 radar transects, mostly organised as a grid, with denser data acquisition in areas of particular interest. At NP a grid of 21 radar transects were collected, covering an area of approximately 5×5 km^2. In this radar dataset, 20 IRHs and the ice-bed interface were manually traced, using the Petrel E&P Software Platform by Schlumberger. A single file for each IRH is provided in a .txt file, tab separated format with both two-way travel time and depth. The conversion done using c = 0.1685 m/us and firn correction of 10 m. The 20 IRHs are provided at 5 m along-track resolution

Internal reflecting horizons in the Dome C region of Antarctica

This dataset consists of radar IRHs (internal reflecting horizons) which were traced across ice-penetrating radar surveys conducted between 2016 and 2018 over the Dome C region of the East Antarctic Plateau. The dataset is associated with the publication Chung et al. (2023). The data was collected during two radar surveys conducted in the Antarctic field seasons of 2016-17 and 2017-18 using the sledge-borne DEep LOoking Radio Echo Sounder (DELORES) from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). The surveys covered two areas around Dome C which were identified as potential drill sites for the Beyond EPICA Oldest Ice drilling project - Little Dome C (LDC) and North Patch (NP). The LDC area is covered by a dense network of 116 radar transects, mostly organised as a grid, with denser data acquisition in areas of particular interest. At NP a grid of 21 radar transects were collected, covering an area of approximately 5×5 km^2. In this radar dataset, 20 IRHs and the ice-bed interface were manually traced, using the Petrel E&P Software Platform by Schlumberger. A single file for each IRH is provided in a .txt file, tab separated format with both two-way travel time and depth. The conversion done using c = 0.1685 m/us and firn correction of 10 m. The 20 IRHs are provided at 5 m along-track resolution. IRHs were linked from LDC to the EDC ice core site using the 3 radar transects (DC-LDCRAID2, DC_LDCRAID, DC_LDC_DIVIDE) and from NP to EDC using 1 radar transect link (DC_PNV09B). Ages for IRHs were then calculated by linearly interpolating the EDC age-depth timescale from AICC2012 (Bazin et al., 2013) where the IRHs are closest to the ice core site. The age of each IRH is obtained by first calculating the average of the ages obtained from the three EDC–LDC radar intersections, and then averaging with the EDC–NP intersection. IRH ages and uncertainties (in ka BP - before 1950) are provided in the ages text file