Deep ice core rig at Siple Dome.
Driller/core handler in protective clothing, which must be worn to avoid health hazards due to constantly coming into contact with the drilling fluid (butyl acetate). Among other things, the drilling fluid is needed to hold the drill hole open, as ice deformation is constantly trying to close the hole at depth. Thus, the fluid must remain liquid at sub-(water)freezing temperatures and it must have a density greater than that of ice. It has the sickening smell of bannana flavored chewing gum. The actual drill can be seen just to the left of the driller's right arm.
Core-handlers bagging a section of core as it comes out of the drill barrel, after which it will be stored in a underground ice trench. This must be done quickly, especially when the core comes from deep in the ice, as the ice has undergone a great pressure change and is extremely fragile. Storing the core in the cold trench helps to keep the core from shattering ... a problem that was very common with this particular core.
Greg Lamorey (DRI), who was in charge of the drilling at the end of the season, and Bob Bindschadler (NASA) examining some of the core in the storage trench.