Australian researchers have battled blizzards and freezing temperatures to reach a million-year-old Antarctic ice summit, paving the way for scientists to learn more about climate change.
The 10-person team started the 2300-kilometre round trip on December 23, leaving the Casey research station for Little Dome C - the location of the million-year ice core
The remote summit holds some of the world's oldest ice, which could provide new information for climate modelling and answers to long-standing questions about the ice ages.
In less than three months, the Australian team was able to successfully prove a safe path to the site while testing tractors and traverse machinery.
They were also able to collect the first shallow ice cores, which hold important initial information on snow chemistry.
"This opens a new chapter on Antarctic science and reinforces our ability to reach into remote depths of the Antarctic continent for science and knowledge," Australian Antarctic Division glaciologist Lenneke Jong said.
"These cores range from six to seven metres long and cover roughly 200 years of snowfall. They're our first look at snow chemistry and climate data at the site."
The team battled blizzards, temperatures of minus 44 degrees Celsius and hardened snow dunes during their journey.
The cores collected during the expedition will be flown back to Australia later this month.
"By taking these cores now we're able to also test temperature and stress experienced by the ice cores in the transport chain back to Hobart," Dr Jong said.
"This will help us build a secure cold chain for this precious deeper ice."
Next summer, the Australian researchers will start drilling at the site to retrieve an ice core more than a million years old.
They will also establish a tent to house the custom-made drill and the inland station.
