Why Tajikistan’s Ice Cores Are Key to Climate History

Tajikistan has made a historic contribution to climate science. The nation donated two precious ice cores to the international scientific community. This donation occurred on Monday. The cores are destined for the Pamir Research programme and the Ice Memory sanctuary in Antarctica.

This act marks the first time any country has formally given such glacial archives. The ice was extracted from the remote Kon Chukurbashi area of the Pamir Mountains. According to the Pamir Research Programme, this region is a key part of the so-called “Karakoram Anomaly.”

Unlocking Centuries of Climate Data from a Vanishing World

An international team of 13 scientists led the challenging expedition. They drilled at an altitude of 5,800 meters on the Kon Chukurbashi ice cap. The team retrieved the deep ice cores from a depth of around 105 meters.

Ice cores are vertical columns of ice drilled from glaciers. They hold a frozen record of Earth’s past atmosphere. This includes data on ancient temperatures and greenhouse gas concentrations. The Pamirs were one of the last major high-altitude regions without a deep ice core sample.

The Race to Preserve a Fading Climate Signal

Scientists believe these specific ice cores hold at least 700 years of climate history. However, this invaluable data is now at risk. A decade of hot and dry years is threatening the region’s glaciers.

There is growing evidence that the Karakoram Anomaly may be ending. This phenomenon saw glaciers here stable while others retreated globally. A landmark 2021 study using satellite data first indicated this shift. Recent on-the-ground measurements confirm a strong trend towards glacier mass loss.

Scientists point to severe snowfall shortages as a primary cause. This precipitation deficit is a major threat to glacier health. The cores will be shipped for analysis to Japan and Antarctica for safekeeping.

This unprecedented donation by Tajikistan secures a vital piece of our planet’s climate history. The first ice core donation provides a unique library of environmental data for future generations. Scientists can now study this archive to better understand the profound transformations underway.

Info at your fingertips

What is an ice core and why is it important?

An ice core is a vertical column of ice drilled from a glacier. It contains trapped air bubbles and particles that serve as a time capsule. Scientists analyze these to understand past climate conditions, like ancient temperatures and atmospheric composition.

Where will the Tajikistan ice cores be stored?

One ice core will be studied by the Pamir Research programme. The other will be preserved at the Ice Memory Sanctuary in Antarctica. This sanctuary is hosted at the Concordia Station by the governments of Italy and France.

What is the “Karakoram Anomaly”?

It is a phenomenon where glaciers in the Karakoram and Pamir ranges remained stable or grew. This defied the global trend of widespread glacier retreat. Recent studies suggest this period of stability may now be ending due to climate change.

How old is the climate data in these ice cores?

The ice cores from the Kon Chukurbashi ice cap are expected to hold at least 700 years of climate history. This provides a long-term record of regional climate variations and environmental changes.

Why was drilling in the Pamirs so significant?

The Pamir Mountains were one of the last major high-altitude regions from which no deep ice core had ever been retrieved. Challenging site access and complex logistics had previously inhibited such expeditions.