South Pole Ice Core

On January 23, 2016, the South Pole Ice Core (SPICEcore) project reached its final depth of 1751 meters (5745 feet; 1.1 miles).

The stable isotope, aerosol, and atmospheric gas records in ice cores provide exceptional archives of past climate. Supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation Office of Polar Programs, a new 1751-meter long ice core was recovered at the South Pole, extending more than 54,000 years into the past (Winski and others, 2019). The ice core was drilled during the 2014-2015 field season (0 to 736 meters) and 2015-2016 field season (736 to 1751 meters) using the new U.S. Intermediate Depth Drill. The South Pole site preserves unique climate records by combining cold temperatures typical of East Antarctica with a relatively high accumulation rate due to West Antarctic influence. The South Pole ice core extends the international array of ice cores used to investigate environmental change since the last glacial/interglacial transition. The scientific goal is to assess and understand changes in atmospheric chemistry, climate, and biogeochemistry.

Recent Publications

  • Epifanio JA, Brook EJ, Buizert C, Pettit EC, Edwards JS, Fegyveresi JM, Sowers TA, Severinghaus JP, and Kahle EC (2023) Millennial and orbital-scale variability in a 54000-year record of total air content from the South Pole ice core. The Cryosphere, 17, 4837–4851. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-4837-2023
  • Thomas ER, Vladimirova DO, Tetzner DR, Emanuelsson BD, Chellman N, Dixon DA, Goosse H, Grieman MM, King ACF, Sigl M, Udy DG, Vance TR, Winski DA, Winton VHL, Bertler NAN, Hori A, Laluraj CM, McConnell JR, Motizuki Y, Takahashi K, Motoyama H, Nakai Y, Schwanck F, Simões JC, Lindau FGL, Severi M, Traversi R, Wauthy S, Xiao C, Yang J, Mosely-Thompson E, Khodzher TV, Golobokova LP, and Ekaykin AA (2023) Ice core chemistry database: an Antarctic compilation of sodium and sulfate records spanning the past 2000 years. Earth System Science Data, 15, 2517-2532. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-2517-2023
  • Piva SB, Barker SJ, Iverson NA, Winton VHL, Bertler NAN, Sigl M, Wilson CJN, Dunbar NW, Kurbatov AV, Carter L, Charlier BLA, Newnham RM (2023) Volcanic glass from the 1.8 ka Taupō eruption (New Zealand) detected in Antarctic ice at ~230 CE. Scientific Reports, 13, 16720. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-42602-3
  • Buizert C, Shackleton S, Severinghaus JP, Roberts WHG, Seltzer A, Bereiter B, Kawamura K, Baggenstos D, Orsi AJ, Oyabu I, Birner B, Morgan JD, Brook EJ, Etheridge DM, Thornton D, Bertler N, Pyne RL, Mulvaney R, Mosley-Thompson E, Neff PD, and Petrenko VV (2023) The new Kr-86 excess ice core proxy for synoptic activity: West Antarctic storminess possibly linked to Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) movement through the last deglaciation. Climate of the Past, 19, 579-606. https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-19-579-2023
  • Chesler A, Winski D, Kreutz K, Koffman B, Osterberg E, Ferris D, Thundercloud Z, Mohan J, Cole-Dai J, Wells M, Handley M, Putnam A, Anderson K, and Harmon N (2023) Non-spherical microparticle shape in Antarctica during the last glacial period affects dust volume-related metrics. Climate of the Past, 19, 477-492. https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-19-477-2023
  • View all publications

Additional Reading

Southern Ocean Sea Ice Cover Has Gradually Grown Over The Past 10,000 Years - A Long-Term View Of Sea Ice Extent Gives Researchers Insight Into The Effects Of Climate Change
The Antarctic Sun
June 14, 2021
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South Pole and East Antarctica warmer than previously thought during last ice age, two studies show
University of Washington News
June 3, 2021
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Getting to the Bottom of SPICECORE – Researchers drill deep into the ice beneath the South Pole to sample Earth's ancient atmosphere
The Antarctic Sun
April 12, 2016
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Going deep – Drilling project to retrieve longest ice core ever from South Pole
The Antarctic Sun
March 26, 2015
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Scientists drilling first deep ice core at the South Pole
University of Washington News
January 20, 2015
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SPICE-ing it up – New project plans to retrieve South Pole ice core beginning in 2014-15
The Antarctic Sun
March 8, 2013
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