National Ice Core Laboratory

National Ice Core Laboratory
Name	National Ice Core Laboratory
Established	1993
Location	Denver Federal Center, Lakewood, Colorado
Type	USGS facility
Field	Paleoclimatology, Glaciology

National Ice Core Laboratory. It is a specialized repository and research facility dedicated to the preservation, curation, and study of ice cores recovered from glaciers and ice sheets worldwide. Operated by the United States Geological Survey in collaboration with the National Science Foundation, the facility serves as a central archive for these frozen climate records, supporting investigations into Earth's past climate and atmospheric composition. The laboratory provides critical infrastructure and protocols for the storage, processing, and distribution of ice core samples to the international scientific community.

Overview

The facility is a cornerstone of the United States' contribution to global climate change research, functioning as both an archive and a clean-room laboratory. Housed within the Denver Federal Center in Lakewood, Colorado, it maintains ice cores at temperatures consistently below -36°C to prevent sample degradation. Its operations are integral to programs like the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Divide project and studies of Greenland Ice Sheet dynamics, providing physical samples that contain trapped bubbles of ancient atmosphere and layers of chemical deposits. The archive supports work by institutions such as the University of Colorado Boulder and the Desert Research Institute, making it a vital hub for paleoclimatology.

History and Mission

The laboratory was established in 1993 following the recognition of the need for a centralized, federally managed repository for the nation's growing collection of ice cores. Its creation was driven by the scientific successes of major drilling projects in Antarctica and Greenland, which yielded irreplaceable records requiring long-term preservation. The primary mission is to curate these cores for future generations of scientists, ensuring their availability for new analytical techniques. This mission aligns with the goals of the International Partnerships in Ice Core Sciences and supports the research directives of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Facility and Operations

The main facility consists of a large storage vault, a Class 100 clean room for sample processing, and examination laboratories equipped with specialized saws and imaging systems. The core storage area, maintained by a custom refrigeration system, houses thousands of meters of ice core segments in protective tubes. Operations are managed by a team of curators and technicians who follow strict protocols to prevent contamination from modern air or microorganisms. The location at the Denver Federal Center provides logistical support and proximity to other federal science agencies, facilitating secure sample handling and transport under the guidelines of the Antarctic Treaty System.

Ice Core Collection and Curation

The collection includes iconic ice core records such as those from the Byrd Station and the Vostok Station, as well as more recent acquisitions from the Allan Hills and the Taylor Glacier. Curation involves meticulous documentation, longitudinal cutting of cores for distribution, and the creation of digital archives of core imagery and physical properties data. Samples are allocated to researchers from institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the British Antarctic Survey for specific, approved projects. This careful stewardship ensures the integrity of geochemical signals, including isotopes of oxygen and concentrations of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane.

Scientific Research and Discoveries

Research enabled by samples from the archive has led to landmark discoveries in understanding Quaternary climate dynamics. Studies have reconstructed detailed records of past temperature variations, revealed abrupt climate shifts during events like the Younger Dryas, and documented the tight coupling between atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and global temperatures over multiple glacial periods. Analysis of volcanic ash layers from cores has refined the eruption histories of volcanoes like Mount Pinatubo, while measurements of lead and other pollutants trace the impact of ancient civilizations such as the Roman Empire on the global environment.

Collaboration and Data Access

The laboratory operates as a shared resource, fostering collaboration among agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, academic researchers, and international partners. Data and sample requests are managed through a formal proposal system reviewed by a panel of scientists. Physical samples and associated data, including results from mass spectrometry and continuous flow analysis, are made accessible through dedicated data repositories. This open-access philosophy, coordinated with entities like the World Data Center for Paleoclimatology, ensures that discoveries about the Holocene and earlier epochs are available to inform contemporary climate models and policy discussions.

Category:Research institutes in the United States Category:Climate change research Category:United States Geological Survey