Annual Ice Layer Thickness from the WAIS Divide Ice Core

West Antarctic Ice Sheet data contains averaged annual layer thickness measurements down to 3403 meters depth. The dataset includes approximately 50-meter averaged observations from visual stratigraphy analysis. It was collected by the AMD_USAPDC organization at the National Ice Core Lab in Denver, CO.

Use Cases

• Modeling past accumulation rates using the annual layer thickness time series.
• Calibrating ice core chronology by analyzing the depth profile of layer thickness.
• Studying ice deformation and flow history from thickness variations with depth.
• Reconstructing regional climate signals by correlating layer thickness patterns with other proxy records.

Strengths

• Data covers a deep ice core profile extending to 3403 meters.
• Annual layer thickness is derived from direct visual stratigraphy observations.
• Measurements are averaged at a consistent scale of approximately 50 meters.

Limitations

• Sample size (number of rows) and temporal range are unknown.
• Data granularity is limited to ~50 m averages, not individual annual layers.
• Potential for observational bias or noise in visual stratigraphy method.

Provenance

Source

AMD_USAPDC via NASA Earthdata.

Collection Method

Visual observation of diffuse transmitted light on planed ice core surfaces in a light-shielded booth.

Geography

West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) Divide ice core site.