Sub-Antarctic Ice Coring Expedition (SubICE)

The Sub-Antarctic – ice coring expedition (SubICE), part of the international Antarctic Circumnavigation Expedition (ACE), successfully drilled several shallow ice cores, from five of the remote and globally significant sub-Antarctic islands. The islands are uniquely located to capture changes in the globally significant circumpolar westerly winds and the Antarctic circumpolar current, key to the mixing and ventilation of the world’s deep oceans.

The team from leg 2 of the expedition (Hobart to Punta Arenas), Joel Pedro, Bradley Markle and Guisella Gacitúa drilled the first ever ice core from the Balleny and Peter 1^st islands, and three ice cores from coastal Antarctica (Mertz Glacier and Mount Simple).

The team from leg 3 (Punta Arenas to Cape Town), Liz Thomas, Mariusz Potocki, Amy King and Roger Stilwell drilled two ice cores from South Georgia and the first ever ice core from Bouvet (Bouvetøya) island.

Dr Liz Thomas working on the sub-antarctic islands. Credit: Jean-François Lagrot

The new ice cores will provide a record of past climate, measure atmospheric pollutants and atmospheric circulation, including the variability of the southern ocean winds. The ground penetrating radar data will be used to investigate the internal layering and ice thickness, and together with the ice core data will provide a much needed benchmark for future climate change and glacial retreat.

ACE is the first project of the Swiss Polar Institute, a newly created entity founded by EPFL, the Swiss Institute of Forest, Snow and Landscape research WSL, ETHZ, the University of Bern and Editions Paulsen. It aims to enhance international relations and collaboration between countries, as well as to spark the interest of a new generation of young scientists and explorers in polar research.

Between December 2016 to March 2017, 22 scientific teams from all over the world boarded the Russian research vessel Akademik Treshnikov for an unprecedented expedition around Antarctica. From biology to climatology to oceanography, researchers will work on a number of interrelated fields for the future of this continent.

Joel Pedro drilling on Young Island

Liz Thomas and Roger Stilwell drilling on Bouvet Island (credit Liz Thomas)

Akademik Treshnikov docked in Cape Town (credit Liz Thomas)

The SubICE team

• Elizabeth Thomas – Principle Investigator, British Antarctic Survey, UK
• Joel Pedro – Co-Investigator, Centre for Ice and Climate, Copenhagen, Denmark
• Bradly Markle – Co-Investigator, University of Washington, USA
• Mariusz Potocki and Paul Mayewski – Co-Investigators, Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, USA
• Gino Casassa and Guisella Gacitua – Co-Investigators, University of Magallanes, Chile
• Amy King and Roger Stilwell – British Antarctic Survey, UK

SUBICE team in South Georgia. Amy King, Mariusz Potocki, Liz Thomas and Roger Stilwell (credit Liz Thomas)

Support and collaboration from

Government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI), Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromso, Norway

Australian Antarctic Division, Hobart, Australia

More information about the ACE cruise here

1. Ice core aquisition and analysis

   UK national facility and capability

   Read more of: Ice core aquisition and analysis