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Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 2000-01: VUWAE 45

Wilson Piedmont Glacier S77°16.000′, E163°15.000′

Wilson Piedmont Glacier S77°16.000′, E163°15.000′

The site at the Wilson Piedmont Glacier allows investigation of succeeding precipitation composition from the sea to the Dry Valleys, and serves therefore as a reference for our Victoria Lower Glacier record. The correlation between the data sets enables us to distinguish between marine and terrestrial major ion species and their varying influence through seasons and time. A 3m snow profile has been sampled in 1cm resolution for major ion content, isotope ratios, and in 5cm resolution for dust flux and beta radioactivity analyses. Temperature, crystal geometry, and density have been measured on site.

A shallow (23m) firn core has been recovered from the Wilson Piedmont Glacier. The correlation of this transect of cores from the coast to the Dry Valleys enables a model of input source and timing to be established.

Fig.5: Drilling of firn cores at Wilson Piedmont Glacier

Fig.5: Drilling of firn cores at Wilson Piedmont Glacier

Borehole temperature indicates an average annual temperature of −21.6C, with the winter wave located between 3 and 8m depth. The glacier topography has been surveyed in the vicinity of our study site using differential, static GSP.

Six hourly weather observations on site will be correlated with the measurements from the climate station on Victoria Lower Glacier and assist in tracing typical weather paths.