Eiskernen

Eiskernen is the German term for ice cores, cylindrical samples drilled from glaciers or ice sheets that preserve records of past climate. A typical Eiskern contains layered ice formed by seasonal accumulation, with each layer representing a span of time. The core records atmospheric composition through trapped air bubbles and stores information on past temperatures via isotopic ratios such as oxygen-18 and deuterium, as well as particulate matter like dust and volcanic ash.

Extraction and analysis of Eiskernen require specialized, clean drilling methods to minimize contamination. Cores are kept at low temperatures during retrieval, transported to laboratories, and subjected to decontamination and a suite of analyses. Dating is achieved by layer counting, volcanic ash markers, and auxiliary methods such as gas-age dating. Depths commonly reach several kilometers, yielding records that span tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of years, depending on the site.

Applications of Eiskernen include reconstructing historical temperatures, precipitation patterns, atmospheric gas concentrations, and the timing and magnitude of volcanic eruptions. These data inform climate models and help scientists understand natural climate variability and anthropogenic impacts. Notable projects contributing long-running records include Greenland cores such as GISP2 and GRIP, Antarctic cores like Vostok and EPICA Dome C, and modern efforts such as WAIS Divide.

Limitations of Eiskernen research involve dating uncertainties at great depths, the distinction between ice age and gas age, potential post-extraction alterations, and challenges in maintaining pristine samples. Despite these, ice cores remain a central resource in paleoclimatology.