| Denali Ice Coring Project
|
| Principle Investigators: Cameron Wake, UNH Karl Kreutz, UMaine Erich Osterberg, Dartmouth College |
|
|
 Our overall goal in this National Science Foundation funded project is to develop multi-parameter, high-resolution, annually dated ice core records from Denali National Park (DNP), central Alaska. Well-dated glaciochemical, isotopic and accumulation time series from this location will allow us to add to the growing understanding of North Pacific climate variability over the last ~1000 years and answer many research topics, including: 1. the anthropogenic impact received at Denali National Park along the primary climbing route to the Denali summit, 2. the regional influence of large-scale circulation patterns, such as the Arctic Oscillation, El Nino-Southern Oscillation, and Pacific Decadal Oscillation, and 3. how regional climate responded to recent climate anomalies, such as the Little Ice Age and the Medieval Warm Period. In May 2008, we spent three weeks on the glaciers in DNP taking snow samples and shallow cores at two locations potentially suitable for drilling a surface-to-bedrock ice core. Additional surface and fresh snow samples were taken to gain an understanding of the current chemical composition at DNP. Data from this initial investigation revealed that a site on Kahiltna Glacier just south of Kahiltna Pass should be a suitable. A team returned to the site in May 2009 to gather more extensive data to confirm our initial evaluation. We would like to acknowledge and thank the NSF - Arctic Natural Sciences for their support (NSF-OPP-0714004, NSF-OPP-0713974 - Drillsite Reconnaissance and Snow Chemistry Survey in Denali National Park); the employees of Denali National Park, the Rangers at Park Headquarters and at the Talkeetna station; special thanks to David Kreutzer and Guy Adema for their logistical support; and to Paul Roderick and the whole staff at Talkeetna Air Taxi.
|