Why do we need Geophysics for Ice Core Studies?

Geophysical measurements and analyses allow the selection of optimal ice core drilling sites.
Geophysical measurements and analyses are essential for recovering two fundamental climate parameters, accumulation rate and temperature.
Geophysical measurements and analyses help us to understand the effects of ice flow on the stratigraphic record.

The importance of ice dynamics to ice core research was recognized by the Committee for Science Planning in Central Greenland (Mosley-Thompson et. al., 1985) in the science plan that lead to the GISP2 project.

New glacier geophysical methods and models developed in the past decade have contributed to the GISP2 program in additional ways that were not anticipated.

The figure to the left shows how geophysical studies can supplement and fortify paleo-climate reconstructions from an ice core.