Based upon a strong demonstration of the use of ice core records for understanding climate change developed from our previous research (GISP2, Taylor Dome, Siple Dome, US ITASE and several other ice core programs in Antarctica, the Arctic, North Pacific and Asia) we propose to examine an existing ice core of opportunity from South Pole (SPRESO core) to develop a 2000+ year long climate record. SPRESO ice core will be an annually dated, sub-annually-resolved reconstruction of past climate (atmospheric circulation, temperature, precipitation rate, and atmospheric chemistry) utilizing continuous, co-registered measurements (n=45) of: major ions, trace elements, and stable isotope series, plus selected sections for microparticle size and composition. Few 2000+ year records of this quality exist in Antarctica despite increasing scientific interest in this critical time period as the framework within which to understand modern climate.

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