| PI | Institute/Department | |
|---|---|---|
| Dahl-Jensen, Dorthe |
University of Copenhagen
|
| Program Manager | Funding Agency | |
|---|---|---|
| Crain, Ms. Renee |
NSF, Office of Polar Programs
|
Green2Ice will investigate the deepest and oldest ice and basal sediments drilled from the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS). Ice cores have been drilled the last 55 years, but the deepest ice containing basal materials has been preserved until now, and still holds undeciphered paleoclimatic messages. The breakthrough of Green2Ice is to develop and apply cutting edge dating methods on this unique sample collection and hence to reconstruct the age and the stability of the GrIS. A hypothesis to test is if the present GrIS formed at the time of the Mid Pleistocene Transition, 1,2 - 0.8 million years ago. One innovation of Green2Ice is to gain paleo-information of the past size of the GrIS to constrain future tipping points. This knowledge will reduce the uncertainty on estimates of future sea level rise. Green2Ice will bring together four PIs from three world leading institutions with complementary skills to lift this strongly interdisciplinary program. We will drill a replicate core at GRIP, to supplement the available material from five existing ice cores and ensure retrieval of sediments and rock material from beneath the GrIS summit. We will develop, improve and apply novel dating techniques (cosmogenic and radiogenic nuclides, OSL/IRSL, modeling of gas and isotope diffusion) to place constraints on past waxing and waning of the GrIS. State-of-the-art methodologies on fossil remains, organic matter, in situ produced and consumed greenhouse gases, and ancient bio-molecules will provide insights on the types of ecosystems and environmental conditions that emerged during ice-free conditions. Interpretation will include ice sheet modelling with data benchmarking to establish the climatic sensitivity of the GrIS. Earth system modelling and collaboration with the groups preparing the IPCC AR7 will bring the knowledge of the past into the future. The rare and unique basal ice and material can only be used once. This is the main high risk high gain component of Green2Ice.
International partners from University of Copenhagen, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Centre national de la researche scientifique (CNRS), Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), Technical University of Denmark (DTU), and University of Manitoba support the Horizon European Research Council synergy grant, Green2Ice. The Green2Ice project aims to use dating methods on geological material underneath the Greenland ice sheet to understand past ice-sheet extent. Green2Ice aims to develop and apply cutting-edge dating methods to reconstruct the ice sheet’s age and stability as well as understand the implications of ice-free conditions in Greenland on the sea levels and microbial populations below the ice that present a potent contribution to greenhouse gases. The planned project includes re-drilling into the bedrock of the old GRIP borehole last used for ice core drilling in 1992, located on the highest point of the ice sheet. Researchers will locate the previous borehole casing and then verify if still intact and confirm a rock drill can penetrate through the casing and to the bed. Fieldwork will take place in 2025 and 2026.
In late spring 2025, researchers will travel from EastGRIP to GRIP via overland traverse. Researchers will use ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to locate the old borehole and to check the integrity of the casing with a borehole camera. After locating the borehole, researchers will travel to Summit Station to obtain fuel for continuing overland traverse back to EastGRIP to support a full camp move to the GRIP site. Once the GRIP site is established, ANG flights to GRIP will commence delivering researchers and cargo to support bedrock drilling efforts.
In 2026, bedrock drilling activities continue.
Battelle ARO will provide coordination and tracking of Air National Guard airlift for cargo, personnel, and fuel. In 2025, Battelle ARO will provide fuel from Summit Station for project traverse activities. NSF will recoup costs associated with this support via a billing arrangement with the University of Copenhagen. All other support requirements associated with the project will be arranged and paid for by the project.
| Season | Date In | Date Out | #People |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2025
|
|
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11
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