EAGER: Exploration of the Denali Basal Ice Core Archive

该奖项使用的资金，在EARLY概念资助探索性研究（EAGER）计划的主持下，探索使用的基础冰从山。亨特（德纳利国家公园）冰芯重建水文气候变化在阿拉斯加中部通过全新世。 在这个EAGER项目中采用的方法将测试在核心的底部十米的定年约束的可行性，并探索新的方法古气候代用测量。研究人员的目标是解决以下问题：1）是否有整合地层内的基冰山。亨特？研究人员将探索使用新的高分辨率（激光消融ICP-MS，微稳定同位素分析）和14碳测量来测试地层连续性假设的可行性。如果测量技术提供的时间信息与适当的错误和德纳里冰芯档案证明有一个连续的地层记录，那么全新世的大部分可能是在档案中访问。研究人员将测试一种新的方法，使用扫描电子显微镜（SEM）分析压缩熔体特征，这有可能显着扩大我们对过去夏季温度变化的了解。猎人高原？进入包含在山的最低部分的床材料。猎人冰芯为研究阿拉斯加中部的这一问题提供了机会。 研究人员将测试宇宙成因同位素分析（10-Berillium）对基底岩心部分所含小卵石和沉积物的有效性。如果成功的话，对基底冰样品的宇宙成因同位素分析将为结合冰川学、古气候学、冰川地质学和冰下环境学科开辟新的研究途径。Denali冰芯档案中的新测量结果的探索将可能在几个重要的古气候前沿方面提供科学突破，例如：1）改进和扩展现有冰芯积累时间序列，并评估全新世水文气候变化; 2）评估各种气候变化模式的影响，特别是厄尔尼诺-南方涛动（ENSO），在全新世北太平洋区域气候; 3）了解水文循环的区域差异，特别是考虑到ENSO相关的变化对北太平洋水文的潜在社会影响; 4）在有记录的温暖时期评估区域水文气候变化和冰川响应（全新世气候最佳）;和5）侦察努力与宇宙成因同位素分析可能会产生有价值的初步信息，在阿拉斯加中部的冰稳定性在更长的时间内。这是朝着设计和实施一项全面的研究战略迈出的重要一步，上新世-更新世）阿拉斯加冰动力学。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

This award uses funds, under the auspices of the EArly Concept Grant For Exploratory Research (EAGER) program, to explore the use of the basal ice from the Mt. Hunter (Denali National Park) ice core for reconstructing hydroclimate variability in Central Alaska through the Holocene. The approach employed in this EAGER project will test the viability of dating constraints in the bottom ten meters of the core and explore new approaches for paleoclimate proxy measurement. The researchers aim to address the following questions:1) Are there conformable strata within the basal ice of Mt. Hunter?The researchers will explore the feasibility of using novel high resolution (laser ablation ICP-MS, micro-stable isotope analyses) and 14-Carbon measurements to test the stratigraphic continuity hypothesis. If the measurement techniques provide chronological information with appropriate errors and the Denali ice core archive proves to have a continuous stratigraphic record, then a large portion of the Holocene may be accessible in the archive.2) What is the history of summer temperature in Central Alaska through the Holocene?The researchers will test a new approach to analyze compressed melt features using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) that has the potential to significantly expand our knowledge of past summer temperature variability.3) How long has ice been present on the Mt. Hunter plateau?Access to bed material contained in the lowest portion of the Mt. Hunter ice cores provides an opportunity for investigation of this question in Central Alaska. The researchers will test the validity of cosmogenic isotope analysis (10-Berillium) on small pebbles and sediment contained in the basal core sections. Such analyses are unique on lithogenic material recovered in an alpine ice core.If successful, cosmogenic isotope analysis of samples from basal ice will open new research avenues for combining glaciological, paleoclimate, glacial geology, and subglacial environment disciplines. Exploration of new measurements in the Denali ice core archive will potentially provide scientific breakthroughs on several important paleoclimate fronts such as: 1) improvement and extension of existing ice core accumulation time series, and evaluation of hydroclimate variability over the Holocene; 2) evaluation of the impact of various modes of climate variability, particularly El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), on regional climate in the North Pacific over the Holocene; 3) understanding regional differences in the hydrological cycle particularly given the potential societal impacts of ENSO-related variability on North Pacific hydrology; 4) evaluation of regional hydroclimate variability and glacier response during a documented warm period (Holocene climate optimum); and 5) reconnaissance effort with cosmogenic isotope analyses may yield valuable initial information on ice stability in Central Alaska over much longer time periods. This as an important step towards designing and implementing a comprehensive research strategy addressing long-term (e.g., Plio-Pleistocene) ice dynamics in Alaska. Such results would have a broad impact across the geosciences.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.