Articles | Volume 19, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3805-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3805-2025
Research article
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15 Sep 2025
Research article | Highlight paper |  | 15 Sep 2025

Linking crystallographic orientation and ice stream dynamics: evidence from the EastGRIP ice core

Nicolas Stoll, Ilka Weikusat, Daniela Jansen, Paul Bons, Kyra Darányi, Julien Westhoff, María-Gema Llorens, David Wallis, Jan Eichler, Tomotaka Saruya, Tomoyuki Homma, Sune Olander Rasmussen, Giulia Sinnl, Anders Svensson, Martyn Drury, Frank Wilhelms, Sepp Kipfstuhl, Dorthe Dahl-Jensen, and Johanna Kerch

Data sets

Conductivity and permittivity measured with the dielectric profiling (DEP) technique on the EGRIP ice core, 2120.850-2656.995 m depth F. Wilhelms et al. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.971616

Crystal-preferred orientation data from the polar ice core EGRIP (vertical and horizontal thin section data, raw and processed), 111-2664 m depth, 2017-2023 I. Weikusat et al. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.983953

Grain properties and crystal-preferred orientation for EGRIP ice core samples (vertical sections), 111-2651 m depth N. Stoll https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.983909

Chronology for the East GReenland Ice-core Project (EGRIP), extended to 108,305 years before 2000 CE S. O. Rasmussen and G. Sinnl https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.984827

Acidity measured with the Electrical Conductivity Method (ECM) on the full EGRIP ice core, converted to hydrogen ion concentration S. O. Rasmussen and G. Sinnl https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.984831

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Co-editor-in-chief
The orientation and size of ice crystals play a crucial role in the movement of ice and, consequently, how ice sheets and glaciers respond to changes in climate. In this study, results from the analysis of the ice crystal fabric of the EastGRIP ice core are presented. This is the first ice core to be collected in an ice stream, uniquely addressing issues related to ice dynamics. As a result, the work provides new insights into the processes, kinematics, and conditions within an ice stream, greatly advancing our understanding of fast-flowing ice streams.
Short summary
A better understanding of ice flow requires more observational data. The EastGRIP core is the first ice core through an active ice stream. We discuss crystal orientation data determining the present deformation regimes.  A comparison with other deep cores shows the unique properties of EastGRIP and shows that deep ice likely originates from the Eemian. We further show that the overall plug flow of NEGIS is characterised by many small-scale variations, which remain to be considered in ice flow models.
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