Firn-Core Drilling Operation at Tyndall Glacier, Southern Patagonia Icefield

A 45.97 m-deep drilling operation was carried out during November/December 1999 at the accumulation area of Tyndall Glacier, 1756 m asl, in the southern end of the Southern Patagonia Icefield. In the field, the fern-core obtained was the subject of stratigraphic observations and density measurements. Preliminary results suggest an extremely high accumulation (about 13.5 m w.e.), which agrees with snow measurements observed during the fieldwork. Laboratory analyses are currently underway in Japan to characterize the physical, chemical and biological properties of the core.