This data set consists of a comprehensive, frame-stitched low‐resolution set of digital images of vertical thin sections of the main core (WDC 06A) from WAIS Divide.
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WAIS Divide Ice Core Vertical Thin Section Low-resolution Digital Imagery, Version 1
Geographic Coverage
Spatial Coverage: |
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Spatial Resolution: |
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Temporal Coverage: |
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Temporal Resolution: | Not specified |
Parameter(s): |
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Platform(s) | Laboratory |
Sensor(s): | DSLR |
Data Format(s): |
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Version: | V1 |
Data Contributor(s): | NSIDC User Services, Eric Cravens |
Metadata XML: | View Metadata Record |
Data Citation
As a condition of using these data, you must cite the use of this data set using the following citation. For more information, see our Use and Copyright Web page.
Fitzpatrick, J. and E. D. Cravens. 2016. WAIS Divide Ice Core Vertical Thin Section Low-resolution Digital Imagery, Version 1. [Indicate subset used]. Boulder, Colorado USA. NSIDC: National Snow and Ice Data Center. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.7265/N5GM858X. [Date Accessed].Literature Citation
As a condition of using these data, we request that you acknowledge the author(s) of this data set by referencing the following peer-reviewed publication.
Fitzpatrick, J. et al. 2014. Physical properties of the WAIS Divide ice core, Journal of Glaciology. 60. 1181-1198. http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/2014JoG14J100
This data set consists of a comprehensive, frame-stitched low‐resolution set of digital images of vertical thin sections of the main core (WDC 06A) from WAIS Divide.
Detailed Data Description
Images are in JPEG (.jpg) format. Metadata for the images are available in Microsoft Excel format (.xlsx).
Data are available on the FTP site in the ftp://sidads.colorado.edu/pub/DATASETS/AGDC/nsidc0654_jfitzpatrick directory. Within this directory, there is one folder, 1 AGDC jpgs/, and one file, Thin-Section-Images-METADATA.xlsx. The folder contains 170 images of the vertical thin sections from the WDC 06A ice core, and the file consists of five columns of metadata relevant to each image. Refer to Table 1 for a description of the the content within each column.
Column Header | Descriptions |
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Sample Identifier | Lists each of the sample images. |
True Top Depth (m) | True top depth in meters as determined by the field core processing line (cpl) over the depth interval 120 - 580 m, and the National Ice Core Laboratory (NICL) cpls below this depth |
Dimensions (px) | Height and width of the image in pixels |
File Size (MB) | Size of the file in MB |
Mean Equiv. Diamter (mm) | Mean grain size as equivalent circular diamter (mm) derived from the image |
Analyzed Grain Count (n) | Number of grains measured |
Each image file name includes the ice core name, the depth at which the sample was taken, and the notation that the sample was a vertical thin section (VTS) (see to Table 2). When multiple images were taken at the same depth, the file name includes either the number 1 or 2 and a letter to indicate separate images.
Example: WDC 06A 1005 VTS.jpg
WDC 06A 2968 VTS 1a.jpg
WDC 06A xxxx VTS xx.jpg
Variable | Description |
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WDC | WAIS Divide Ice Core |
06A | Ice core number |
xxxx | Sample depth |
VTS | Vertical thin section |
xx | Indicates a separate image when multiple images were taken at the same depth |
The image files range in size from 0.41 MB to 3.6 MB. The Excel file is 57.7 KB.
The volume for all files in the data set is ~260 MB.
The ice core was drilled at the WAIS Divide, at latitude 79°28 S and longitude 112°05 W.
Spatial Resolution
Spatial resolution is every 20 m.
Temporal coverage for the data is 1 January 2008 to 30 August 2013.
Temporal Resolution
Temporal resolution varies.
The parameter for the data is grain size.
Sample Data Record
Refer to Figure 1 for a sample of the data in the Thin-Section-Images-METADATA.xlsx file (this image is only a partial representation of the rows in the file). Figure 2 is a sample of the .jpg image files.
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Software and Tools
Data are available via FTP.
The data is accessible with any image viewer for the image files (.jpg) and Microsoft Excel for the metadata file.
Data Acquisition and Processing
All images were acquired in cross-polarized light at a sample thickness of approximately 350 microns. Refer to Fitzpatrick, J.J., 2013 for the detailed methodology.
Processing Steps
Personnel took images with a Nikon D90 DSLR camera. Images for a given thin section were assembled using Photoshop™. A Grain Mesh was extracted utilizing functions of Photoshop™ and reviewed. The finalized version of the grain mesh was analyzed using the Fovea Pro™ plug-in for Photoshop™. Resulting data are summarized in Excel files.
References and Related Publications
Contacts and Acknowledgments
Dr. Joan J. Fitzpatrick
U. S. Geological Survey
Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center
P.O. Box 25046, DFC, MS 980
Lakewood, CO 80225 U. S. A.
Eric D. Cravens
U. S. Geological Survey
Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center
P.O. Box 25046, DFC, MS 980
Lakewood, CO 80225 U. S. A.
This research was supported by NSF Division of Polar Programs (PLR) Grant Number 0539578 and the U. S. Geological Survey Climate and Land Use Change Program.
Document Information
DOCUMENT CREATION DATE
1 March 2016
DOCUMENT REVISION DATE
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