Collecting Micrometeorites from the South Pole Wate Well

Department Of Army Cold Regions Research & Engineering Lab, Vicksburg MS

Investigators

Abstract

9909694 Taylor This award provides support for funding to collect micrometeorites from the South Pole Water Well (SPWW) before it is closed in 2002. In 1995, thousands of micrometeorites were collected from the bottom of the well and a precise flux and mass distribution for 50-700 micron cosmic spherules (melted micrometeorites) for 1100-1500 A.D was determined. The new collection will allow the P.I.s to verify that the central plateau preserves the original surface flux of micrometeorites, quantify both melted and unmelted micrometeorites for the 400-1100 A.D. time frame, determine the flux for 1-50 micron interplanetary dust particles (IDP's) and assess whether they are a subclass of micrometeorites or derive from different cosmic sources, quantify variations (if any) in the flux or compositional distribution of micrometeorites on 10-100 year time scales and recover as many micrometeorites from the SPWW as possible. In addition to micrometeorites, the P.I.s propose to collect diatoms, opal phytoliths and terrestrial mineral grains from the well. Such collections will help researchers determine the sources of terrestrial particles landing on the Antarctic plateau. Arrangements have been made for Johnson Space Center (JSC)/NASA to curate the samples and make them readily available to researchers in earth and planetary sciences.