Recommendations for a
U.S. Ice Coring Program

Action Plan

YEAR I

1. Establish the Ice Core Working Group (ICWG) with members from at least five U.S. institutions.

2. Establish within ICWG the lines of responsibility for carrying out its specific tasks.

3. Establish funding in NSF/DPP for a new program of ice core drilling and analysis (ICAP), and coordination by NSF/DPP for funding by other government agencies and other NSF divisions.

4. Complete regional coring plans (Arctic, Antarctic, and low-latitude) within the context of a well-defined global strategy. The principal element of these plans should be a sequence in priority order of proposed locations for future coring that encompasses the goals of extending both geographical and time scale coverage.

5. Develop plans by ICWG for drilling technology and ice analysis techniques. The plan for drilling technology should take into account how best to bring together engineering and scientific activities.

6. Investigate by ICWG mechanisms for fostering international cooperation in ice core drilling and foreign advisory input into the U.S. program.

7. Call for proposals to implement the recommended plans.

8. Interface by ICWG with other climate disciplines.

YEAR 2

1. Scientific programs are started with existing drill technology.

2. Drill development for future scientific program started.

YEAR 3 AND SUBSEQUENT YEARS

1. Yearly review by ICWG of ongoing science research and drill technology development.

2. Yearly update by ICWG of the science and engineering plan and initiation, if needed, of new science plans and new engineering drill technology plans.

TOP

<- Back | Table of Contents | Next ->

National Ice Core Laboratory Science Management Office