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Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 2004-05: VUWAE 49

Mt. Erebus Saddle Ice Core Record

Mt. Erebus Saddle Ice Core Record

Mt Erebus Saddle lies in the pathway of the ENSO initiated katabatic surges across the Ross Ice Shelf [Cullather et al., 1996; Bromwich et al., 2000] and also of enhanced cyclonic activity from the Southern Ocean [Bertler et al., 2004]. Therefore, the ice core record from Mt Erebus Saddle is likely to show the strongest ENSO influence of all proposed sites. The ENSO record (Southern Oscillation Index) is short and various proxies have been tentatively proposed to reconstruct ENSO variability [Adams et al., 2003; Tudhope and Collins, 2003]. The ice core record from Mt Erebus Saddle potentially provides a mean to reconstruct ENSO since its initiation in the early Holocene. Furthermore, the comparison between Mt Erebus and Mt Prior at Cape Hallett will provide a mean to distinguish ENSO driven climate variability from SAM and ACW forcing.

The semi-permanent Ross Ice Shelf polyna, just east of Ross Island, is also the result of these katabatic winds and is an important area for the production of sea-ice [King and Turner, 1997] and Antarctic Bottom Water [Bromwich et al., 1993]. The Mt Erebus ice core is likely to provide a record of the winter polyna activity through time, via the marine fingerprint in the ice chemistry. Moreover, the Mt Erebus Saddle is located in the vicinity of the proposed ANDRILL location 'Windless Bight'. The sub-annual to decadal ice core record provides a high resolution Holocene record for the much longer but overlaying ANDRILL ice shelf and marine record.

Additionally, the site is only 37km from Scott Base and McMurdo Station and will provide a long-term perspective on climate variability and iceberg discharge, relevant for both, Evans Piedmont Glacier and Mt Erebus sites.