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A study of the isotope signature of glacial ice in the Western Elbrus Plateau (the Caucasus) was made on the basis of five ice cores obtained in different years with high resolution. It was shown that the isotopic characteristics of ice are associated with the processes of accumulation and wind scouring of snow. Three ice cores were obtained in 2013 (C–1, C–2 and C–3), one in 2017 (C–4) and one more in 2018 (C–5). Core sampling was performed with a resolution of 5 cm. Isotopic analysis was done at the CERL laboratory (AARI) using a Picarro L2130-i isotope analyzer, the accuracy was 0.06‰ for δ18O and 0.30‰ for δ2Н. The values of d18О and δ2Н of the ice of the Western Plateau generally vary from –5 to –30‰ and from –18.7 to –225.8‰, respectively, with well-defined seasonality. Comparison of the isotope record for all cores showed that the differences in accumulation for individual seasons reach 0.3 m w. eq., differences in accumulation for individual seasons averaged over 5 years is approximately 0.2 m w.eq. The absolute differences in the average seasonal values of d associated with wind scouring and spatial redistribution of snow (deposition noise), averaged over 5 years, reached 1.38‰. The irregularity of precipitation amount within the season and errors in core dating are an additional contribution to non-climate variance (noise of definition). The absolute difference in the average seasonal values of δ18O associated with this type of noise averaged over 5 years is 1.7‰. Thus, the total uncertainty for two different types of noise can be estimated at 2.2‰, which is about 20% of the annual seasonal amplitude of δ18O values of the glacier ice in the Western Plateau (the average difference between the δ18O values of warm and cold seasons is ~10–11‰). One of the problems of linking the isotope record to the annual temperature record at the weather station was solved by using ammonium concentrations for dating the C-1 ice core and calculating the “ide+al” annual variation of δ18O values by a cosine function of the annual amplitude. Using ammonium ion (NH4) concentration each annual layer in C-1 ice core was divided into two parts associated to snow deposition in winter and in summer. It also showed δ18O values associated to change of seasons. The calculation of the cosine function showed the simplified δ18O values for each month of a particular year, due to which the δ18O values of the season boundaries in the ice core were linked to calendar months. This assimilation allowed us to compare the obtained average seasonal values of δ18O from the core with instrumental observations at the Klukhorskiy Pass meteorological station. The δ18O values of winter seasons have a weak relationship with surface temperatures, not only due to wind erosion, but also due to the high interannual variability of snow accumulation. At the same time, the average δ18O values of the warm seasons are significantly positive correlated with surface temperature (r = 0.7, p = 0.1), so ice core δ18O records can be used as a temperature proxy of the warm period.

The density of the snow and firn thickness is one of the fundamental and most important physical properties of the polar ice sheets. The data on density is used for reconstructing the past snow accumulation rate variability based on firn core studies, for correcting the results of the instrumental surface mass balance measurements and for verification of empirical and physical densification models. In this work we present a unique dataset on the snow and firn density in the upper 70 m of Antarctic glacier in the vicinity of Vostok Station based on data from 32 snow pits and firn cores. This newly obtained stacked density profile reveals different stages of the densification process. In the upper 27 cm a fast growth of the density is observed from 0.320 to 0.365 g cm-3 as a result of the initial snow grain metamorphism. Below 0.3 m much slower densification rates are observed. At the depth of 22.5 m the transition from snow to firn can be seen at the density of 0.526 g cm-3. The vertical density distribution can be approximated with a polynomial function with the accuracy of 0.01 g cm-3 along the whole profile except for the upper 0.3 m. In order to investigate the glacio-climatic conditions under which the snow-firn density has evolved, we applied a semi-empirical model by Herron and Langway (1980). In first approximation, the density distribution can be explained with the initial snow density equal to 0.35 g cm-3, surface glacier temperature equal to -57 C, and snow accumulation rate of 1.8–2.1 g cm-2 yr-1. The discrepancy between the data and model can be, to our opinion, explained by the recent increase of the snow accumulation rate as evidenced from the firn core studies. However, the non-stationary physical densification model failed to reproduced the density data with sufficient accuracy, which calls for revisiting the model configuration and tuning.

In this work we have presented the results of numerical modeling of the age and temperature distribution in ice layers at Dome B site (79,02° S, 93,69° E, altitude 3807 m a.s.l., ice thickness about 2.5 km), located 300 km to the west from Russian Antarctic station Vostok. Dome B is situated on the onset of the ice flow line passing through deep borehole 5G, and is considered as one of the most promising places to search for and to study the Easth’s oldest ice with the age of up to 1.5 Ma. According to our calculations, all realistic scenarios show the ice age at 60 m above the ice base to be considerably older than 1 Ma, and the glacier base temperature is well below the pressure melting point (−1.8 °С for pressure = 23 MPa). For the most likely scenario (accumulation rate 1.8 g/(cm2 year), effective ice surface temperature −64 °С and geothermal heat flux 60 mW/m2) the ice age is 1.4 Ma and the basal temperature is about −13 °С that is close to the earlier predictions from a 2D‑model. Maximum estimate of the «diffusion length» in the old ice (for the scenario in which the basal temperature reaches the melting point, and in which 30% of «excess diffusion» is taken into account) is 5.2 cm. In 1.4 Ma-old ice a 40-ka climatic cycle is squeezed into a 290-cm thick ice layer. For this ratio of wave length and diffusion length the climatic signal attenuation (ratio between the signal amplitude after and before the diffusive smoothing) is 0.6%. Thus, due to the relatively low ice temperature here we may expect a nearly undisturbed climatic curve in the old ice core that will be drilled one day at Dome B. At the same time shorter oscillations with the wavelengths of < 1500 years will be totally erased by diffusion.

We study a firn and ice core drilled at the new “Lock-In” site in East Antarctica, located 136 km away from Concordia station towards Dumont d'Urville. High-resolution chemical and physical measurements were performed on the core, with a particular focus on the trapping zone of the firn where air bubbles are formed. We measured the air content in the ice, closed and open porous volumes in the firn, firn density, firn liquid conductivity, major ion concentrations, and methane concentrations in the ice. The closed and open porosity volumes of firn samples were obtained using the two independent methods of pycnometry and tomography, which yield similar results. The measured increase in the closed porosity with density is used to estimate the air content trapped in the ice with the aid of a simple gas-trapping model. Results show a discrepancy, with the model trapping too much air. Experimental errors have been considered but do not explain the discrepancy between the model and the observations. The model and data can be reconciled with the introduction of a reduced compression of the closed porosity compared to the open porosity. Yet, it is not clear if this limited compression of closed pores is the actual mechanism responsible for the low amount of air in the ice. High-resolution density measurements reveal the presence of strong layering, manifesting itself as centimeter-scale variations. Despite this heterogeneous stratification, all layers, including the ones that are especially dense or less dense compared to their surroundings, display similar pore morphology and closed porosity as a function of density. This implies that all layers close in a similar way, even though some close in advance or later compared to the bulk firn. Investigation of the chemistry data suggests that in the trapping zone, the observed stratification is partly related to the presence of chemical impurities.

In this work we have presented new detailed (with the resolution of 10 cm) stable water isotope (δD and δ18O) profile measured in the central Antarctic Vostok ice core section that contains old ice with the age from 0.4 to 1.2 million years. To interpret these data we have developed a model of molecular diffusion in ice and determined the value of so-called «diffusion length». We have demonstrated that the climatic signal in this ice interval is disturbed by a combination of two processes, ice layer folding (that is accompanied by layer overturning and mixing) and molecular diffusion. The whole old ice interval can be divided in 5 zones that differ in terms of character and intensity of these two processes. In three of these zones the climatic signal is partly preserved and could be restored to some extent. However, in the most interesting and old zone 5 (0.75–1.2 Ma) the climatic signal is nearly completely erased and could hardly be reconstructed. At the same time, the isotopic records obtained from the Vostok old ice have preserved the information on the mean level of the isotopic content of ice in glacial and interglacial stages. This gives an opportunity to reveal and study long-term climatic trends with typical duration longer than main climatic cycles (40–100 ka).

One of the key priority tasks for the international Antarctic community is drilling and studying old Antarctic ice with age exceeding 1 million years in order to investigate possible reasons for the Mid-Pleistocene Transition. During the 2017–2018 austral season at Vostok Station, we carried out microscopic study of geometrical properties of the crystalline inclusions of air hydrates in ice core samples from boreholes 5G‑3 (Vostok) and DC2 (EPICA DC) in depth intervals where the age of the ice exceeded 400,000 years. The obtained data confirmed the existence of a robust linear relationship between the mean radius of the hydrates and the age of the ice in the bottom part of the East Antarctic ice sheet, and will be useful for further development of the new dating technique based on the phenomena of hydrate growth in polar ice. Preliminary, the age of the atmospheric ice bedded at Vostok at a depth of3538 m, inferred from the data on the size of the hydrates, amounts to 1.3±0.17 million years. The existence of ice older than 1 million years in the vicinity of Vostok implies that in the area of Ridge B, where the ice flow line which passes through Vostok Station originates, even older ice, with undisturbed stratigraphy, may exist. It would be desirable therefore to carry out a glacio-geophysical traverse to Ridge B in order to implement a detailed study of Dome B area aimed at identifying the most suitable site for a new deep drilling of the Antarctic ice sheet.

The results of detailed isotopic studies of ice core samples from the Vostok station (East Antarctica) related to the MIS-11 era (the 11th sea isotope stage, i.e. 370–440 thousand years ago) are presented. Reconstruction of paleoclimatic conditions in this period of time was performed using the method of interpretation of the results of isotopic studies of ice, developed by the authors of the article, which is based on the joint analysis of three independent parameters: δD, d-excess, 17O-excess. The isotopic composition (δD) and the deuterium excess depend on the following three meteorological parameters – the condensation temperature near the Vostok station, relative humidity, and the sea surface temperature at the source of moisture, whereas 17O-excess depends only on the first two parameters. Accordingly, the proposed method of interpretation allows reconstructing the paleoclimatic conditions (the condensation temperature and surface air temperature at the Vostok station; sea surface temperature and relative humidity above the ocean) in two different regions in past epochs. For the first time, data on minor fluctuations in the relative humidity of the air in themoisture source throughout the MIS-11 era were obtained. The data resulted from the interpretation demonstrated that the relative humidity fluctuated within the measurement error of ±5%. Reconstructed climatic conditions in the era of MIS-11 were compared with published data for stations Vostok and Concordia, aswell as with the marine core data from 94-607 DSDP and ODP 177-1090. The results obtained on the basis of isotopic analysis of ice cores from stations Vostok and Concordia indicated that in the optimum MIS-11the air temperature was4 °C higher, and in the Termination V –8 °C lower than the present-day values. Thesimilarity of data between the marine columns DSDP 94-607 (North Atlantic), ODP 177-1090 (South Ocean)and our results points to the global nature of changes in the sea surface temperature during the MIS-11 era. The coordination of the above results proves the high quality of the methods developed by the authors for measuring and interpreting the isotope composition of ice.

We investigate for the first time the loss and alteration of past atmospheric information from air trapping mechanisms under low-accumulation conditions through continuous CH4 (and CO) measurements. Methane concentration changes were measured over the Dansgaard–Oeschger event 17 (DO-17, ∼ 60 000 yr BP) in the Antarctic Vostok 4G-2 ice core. Measurements were performed using continuous-flow analysis combined with laser spectroscopy. The results highlight many anomalous layers at the centimeter scale that are unevenly distributed along the ice core. The anomalous methane mixing ratios differ from those in the immediate surrounding layers by up to 50 ppbv. This phenomenon can be theoretically reproduced by a simple layered trapping model, creating very localized gas age scale inversions. We propose a method for cleaning the record of anomalous values that aims at minimizing the bias in the overall signal. Once the layered-trapping-induced anomalies are removed from the record, DO-17 appears to be smoother than its equivalent record from the high-accumulation WAIS Divide ice core. This is expected due to the slower sinking and densification speeds of firn layers at lower accumulation. However, the degree of smoothing appears surprisingly similar between modern and DO-17 conditions at Vostok. This suggests that glacial records of trace gases from low-accumulation sites in the East Antarctic plateau can provide a better time resolution of past atmospheric composition changes than previously expected. We also developed a numerical method to extract the gas age distributions in ice layers after the removal of the anomalous layers based on comparison with a weakly smoothed record. It is particularly adapted for the conditions of the East Antarctic plateau, as it helps to characterize smoothing for a large range of very low-temperature and low-accumulation conditions.

The main results after the first unlocking into the subglacial Lake Vostok were as follows: the Lake had been opened and not polluted; the water pressure within the lake was not balanced by a column of the drilling liquid that resulted in unplanned rise of water in the borehole up to 340 m. The main problem during the drilling in the lake ice was to prevent a pollution of water by the drilling fluid, which filled the borehole, and thus, to avoid a compression of the fluid which could be the main source of chemical and biological pollution of not only the Lake itself, but also the Lake water samples and ice cores. The article presents results of analysis of causes for the occurrence of phenolic compounds in the central channel in the core of secondary ice, being formed by the lake water that rose into the well after the first penetration (the range of depths was 3426–3450 m). It was found that the process, running within the borehole during the drilling, can be described as the fractionation of phenolic compounds, being contained in the filling liquid, to the water phase with its subsequent freezing. We have developed methods for the determination of concentrations of phenolic compounds in the original aviation kerosene and Freon HCFC-141b: 6. mg·l−1 and 0.032 mg·l−1, respectively. To analyze the composition of phenolic compounds in the extract of real filling liquid, located at the bottom of the borehole, the method of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used. The corresponding peaks were quite well resolved and identified as phenol and its derivatives. The main components of the extract were phenol (20%), 2.5-dimethyl phenol (23,8%), 2,4,6-trimethylphenol, and other congeners of phenol. In our case, the Lake Vostok was not polluted during both, the first and second penetrations, however, the problem of human impact on these pristine and unique subglacial reservoirs remains extremely relevant. This impact includes not only direct water pollution of the lake by the drilling fluid, but also possible changes in organic components of the liquid when contacting with the lake water under natural conditions of a deep well. Our data have demonstrated that using of such complex organic liquids, like aviation kerosene formerly used in many drilling projects, is undesirable when exploring deep Antarctic subglacial lakes. Thus, we come to the conclusion that the drilling fluid, currently used at the Vostok station (in the Vostok borehole), has to be replaced by another more inert fluid that would allow further research and exploration of the Lake Vostok.

The present-day global climate changes, very likely caused by anthropogenic activity, may potentially present a serious threat to the whole human civilization in a near future. In order to develop a plan of measures aimed at elimination of these threats and adaptation to these undesirable changes, one should deeply understand the mechanism of past and present (and thus, future) climatic changes of our planet. In this study we compare the present-day data of instrumental observations of the air temperature and snow accumulation rate performed in Central Antarctica (the Vostok station) with the reconstructed paleogeographic data on a variability of these parameters in the past. First of all, the Vostok station is shown to be differing from other East Antarctic stations due to relatively higher rate of warming (1.6 °C per 100 years) since 1958. At the same time, according to paleogeographic data, from the late eighteenth century to early twenty-first one the total warming amounted to about 1 °C, which is consistent with data from other Antarctic regions. So, we can make a conclusion with high probability that the 30-year period of 1985–2015 was the warmest over the last 2.5 centuries. As for the snow accumulation rate, the paleogeographic data on this contain a certain part of noise that does not allow reliable concluding. However, we found a statistically significant relationship between the rate of snow accumulation and air temperature. This means that with further rise of temperature in Central Antarctica, the rate of solid precipitation accumulation will increase there, thus partially compensating increasing of the sea level.

Work on the project focused on the following five areas: 1) field works in Antarctica at Vostok and Concordia stations; 2) experimental and theoretical studies in the field of ice core and paleoclimate research; 3) experimental and theoretical works related to the exploration of subglacial Lake Vostok; 4) development of technology and drilling equipment for deep ice coring and exploration of subglacial lakes; 5) upgrading the analytical instrumentation in the Climate and Environmental Research Laboratory (CERL) of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute. The main achievements in the field of ice core and paleoclimate research include 1) further elaboration of a new method of ice core dating, which is based on the link between air content of ice and local insolation, 2) investigation of the possible applications of the 17O-excess measurements in ice core to the paleoclimate research, 3) a better understanding of the mechanisms of the formation of relief-related variations in the isotopic content of an ice core drilled in the area of Antarctic megadunes, and 4) obtaining the first reliable data set on the variations of the 17O-excess in the Vostok core corresponding to marine isotope stage 11. As part of our studies of subglacial Lake Vostok, we have obtained a large body of new experimental data from the new ice core recovered from the 5G-3 borehole to the surface of the subglacial lake. Stacked profiles of isotopic composition, gas content and the size and orientation of the ice crystals in the lake ice have been composed from the data of three replicate cores from boreholes 5G-1, 5G-2 and 5G-3. The study reveals that the concentration of gases in the lake water beneath Vostok is unexpectedly low. A clear signature of the melt water in the surface layer of the lake, which is subject to refreezing on the icy ceiling of Lake Vostok, has been discerned in the three different properties of the accreted ice (the ice texture, the isotopic and gas content of the ice). These sets of data indicate in concert that poor mixing of the melt (and hydrothermal) water with the resident lake water and pronounced spatial and/or temporal variability of local hydrological conditions are likely to be the characteristics of the southern end of the lake. A considerable part of the funding allocated by the RSF to this project was used for upgrading the analytical instrumentation for ice core studies in the CERL of AARI. Using this grant, we purchased and started working with the Picarro L-2140i, a new-generation laser mass analyzer, and set the upgraded mass spectrometer Delta V Plus into operation. The new equipment was used to carry out research planned as part of the project, including the setting up and carrying out of new measurements of 17О in ice cores.

Marine records indicate a dramatic change in the predominant periodicity of climate variability, from about 40 ka to about 100 ka around one million years ago. The reason for this major climatic shift, which is called the Mid-Pleistocene Transition or MPT, remains unknown – and is of great interest to the climate scientist. Could the core of the oldest meteoric ice bedded at Vostok between 3310 and 3539 m, which has experienced severe deformation, nevertheless be useful in deciphering some of the aspects of the MPT enigma? Reflecting upon this question and considering the available data from the disturbed section of the ice core, we feel impelled to propose a new project focused on the oldest Vostok meteoric ice, which could be named the Vostok Oldest Ice Challenge or VOICE.

Petrographic studies performed on the continuous basis along the two ice cores obtained from holes 5G-1 and 5G-2 at Vostok Station has allowed to characterize with great details the evolution of the ice texture and fabric in the 232-m thick stratum of accreted ice formed from theLakeVostokwater. Conventionally the whole thickness of accreted ice is divided into two strata: lake ice 1 and lake ice 2. Lake ice 1 (3537–3618 m), formed in the sallow strait50 kmupstream of Vostok, is characterized by presence of disseminated mineral inclusions of Lake Vostok sediments, as well as of «water pockets» that represent frozen water inclusions trapped during the ice accretion. The latter constitute less than 1% of the total ice volume, their mean size is about0.5 cm. Gases trapped by «water pockets» during ice formation transform into crystalline inclusions of mixed gas hydrates. Accretion of lake ice 2 (3618–3769 m) proceeds in the deep part of the lake at a very small rate that does not assume trapping of liquid water inclusions and gases.Both strata of accreted ice are formed by orthotropic crystal growth from pure water. The main tendency in the evolution of accreted ice texture is growth of the mean crystal size with depth as the lake ice becomes younger towards the ice-water interface. The high-amplitude variations of crystal size and orientation observed around this general trend are shown to be linked with temporal and spatial variability of the supercooled melt-water flux from the northern part of the lake towards the ice formation site. The presence of supercooled water at the crystallization front supports persistent preferable growth of ice crystals with sub-horizontally oriented c-axes. The lack of supercooled water in turn support persistent growth of ice crystals with vertical or inclined with respect to the crystallization front c-axis orientation. It means that each of these preferred fabric orientations could serve as an indicator of intensity of melt water flux towards the ice formation site. After completing the isotope measurements on the 5G-2 ice core we plan to use the data on ice texture and fabric obtained in this study together with isotope data for thorough analysis of the peculiarities of water circulation in the southern part ofLakeVostok.

Results of geodetic in-situ observations of ice-flow velocities in the southern part of subglacialLakeVostokare combined with data sets of the ice surface topography, ice thickness, surface accumulation, basal accretion and firn/ice density for interpretations regarding the glaciological setting of theLakeVostoksystem. Based on the ice-flow velocities and the ice thickness, mean surface accumulation rates are derived applying the flux gate method. These are representative for surface segments extending from the southern part ofLakeVostokto the Ridge B ice divide. They are consistent with the present-day accumulation rate at Vostok station and its variation upstream and thus suggest that the area has been close to steady state. In addition, ice-flow dynamics are investigated along a flow line segment extending from26 kmupstream to12 kmdownstream from Vostok station. The analysis suggests deficiencies in current modelling approaches within the transition zone from floating to grounded ice.

Antarctic subglacial lakes can represent extreme natural habitats for microorganisms from the position of their evolution and adaptation, as well as they can contain the information on Antarctic ice sheet history and climatic changes in their sediments. Now only direct measurements and sampling from these habitats can answer on many fundamental questions. Special precaution should be complied at penetration into these unique relic environments without unfavorable impacts and contamination. A number of recommendations were developed on levels of cleanliness and sterility during direct exploration and research of subglacial environments. Documents considered in the article are the first and necessary steps for appropriate and long-term ecological management of subglacial Antarctic environments. Today there are three projects of subglacial aquatic environment research which are in preparation and realization – the Russian project of Lake Vostok, the similar British project of Lake Ellsworth and the American project on Whillans Ice Stream. The programs of ecological stewardship for direct exploration of these lakes are discussed. All these subglacial aquatic objects of further exploration and research are so various on their structure, age and regime, that only results of all programs as a whole can help to draw us a uniform picture of a subglacial ecological system. Ecological stewardship of these should provide the minimal ecological impact with maximal scientific results. On the basis of existing documents and recommendations the general approaches and the program of ecological stewardship for Lake Vostok research are discussed. Study of drilling fluid, drilling chips, Vostok ice core and the fresh frozen water will allow to make an assessment of biological and chemical contamination as a result of the first penetration and to modify the further stewardship program for the second penetration and direct exploration of lake water.

During the 45th–57th Russian Antarctic Expeditions (1999–2012) an intensive program of glaciological and geophysical observations have been carried out in the region between the subglacial Lake Vostok and the Ridge B, Сentral Antarctica. In this work we present the instrumentally obtained snow accumulation data along the northern (NVFL) and southern (VFL) ice flow lines passing through the Lake Vostok. The mean accumulation rate at the NVFL and VFL profiles is 29–37 kg m-2 yr-1 and 21–24 kg m-2 yr-1, respectively. Thus, this region is characterized by a strong latitudinal gradient of the snow accumulation rate, while the longitudinal one is an order of magnitude less. The spatial distribution of the accumulation rate along the VFL is characterized by a sharp variability attributed to the snow re-deposition due to the wind interplay with the local glacier surface slope anomalies. The new data on the stable water isotope concentration (18O) along the VFL profile are also presented.

On the 5th of February 2012 the long-lasting project of deep ice drilling at Russian Antarctic station of Vostok was completed by the penetration to the subglacial lake at the depth of 3769.3 m. The study of the ice core representing the frozen lake water and obtained as a result of the drilling, has allowed to make preliminary conclusions on the lake hydrological regime before its direct studies. In this work we present the new isotopic data (dD and d18O) from the 5G-2 ice core from the depth interval 3600–3720 m. The measurements were performed in the recently established Climate and Environment Research Laboratory of Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (St. Petersburg,Russia). The comparison of the new isotope profile with the previously published 5G-1 data (3540–3650 m) demonstrates a good reproducibility, which means a satisfying quality of the measurements. The analysis of the whole available lake ice thickness isotope profile (3540–3720 m) has allowed to obtain a new information on theLakeVostok’s hydrological regime. Based on the isotopic behavior, the lake ice core is divided into three sections. The first (3540–3619 m) corresponds to the so-called «lake ice 1», the ice containing visible mineral inclusions that was formed close to the western lake shore. The isotopic variability in this section was formed due to the changing conditions and mechanisms of the ice formation (ice accretion rate, concentrations of the frazil ice crystals and frozen water pockets). The second (3619–3647 m) is characterized by a weak correlation between deuterium and oxygen 18, which is interpreted as an influence of the hydrothermal activity on the lake’s isotopic regime. In the third section (3647–3720 m), formed over the deep basin in the southern part of the lake, the isotopic variability is reduced due to the relatively stable steady-state conditions of the ice formation. At the same time, the signature of the lake water isotopic variability is observed here, which is attributed to the pulsations of the flux and/or isotope content of the melt glacier waters coming from the northern part of the lake. In turn, this means not complete mixing of the lake source waters with the resident water of the lake and, thus, that the water layer just beneath the glacier in the Vostok station area is not representative in terms of the conditions in the main lake body. We suggest that the future direct lake studies must include water sampling at different depths from the lake-water interface to the bottom. Meanwhile, in the nearest future this study will be developed by the completing of the measurements of the whole 5G-2 core (to the depth of3769 m), as well as the analysis of the short-term (1 cm) variations in the bottom part of the ice core, where the isotopic signal must be fully preserved without being erased by the molecular diffusion. Also, the measurement of the first lake water sample recovered from the drill after the penetration will allow the comparison with the lake ice isotope content in order to experimentally define the effective isotope fractionation coefficient and thus constrain the possible mechanism of the lake ice formation.

We present here a brief description of the drilling operations in the deep 5G hole at the Russian Vostok Station with more detailed account of the final stage of this long-term project successfully ended on February 5, 2012 with the first Lake Vostok unsealing. Relevant information on the borehole design and the technical characteristics of the downhole and surface drilling equipment is given. The peculiarities of the drilling process are discussed in connection with changing properties of the penetrated ice. The data analysis allows defining the main factors that influence the efficiency of the electromechanical drill system at great depths. It is shown that the elevated temperature of ice and its coarse-crystalline texture are mainly responsible for the significant for the showing-down of ice coring in the bottom sections of ice sheets observed at Vostok and at other drilling sites in Antarctica and Greenland as well. Based on the large amount of experimental data obtained in the course of the deep drilling at Vostok, we discuss the processes which occur in the borehole during the ice drilling and unsealing the sub-ice water bodies. In particular, we investigate the conditions for occurrence of hydraulic fracturing in the hole and the possible effect of the hydrofrac on the height of the water column that have risen in hole 5G after the Lake Vostok unsealing. Finally we formulate the drill equipment requirements and process specifications that would ensure the best performance of an electromechanical drill and trouble-free drilling operations at different depths in a borehole up to the bottom of ice sheet.

The results of the isotopic investigations of several ice cores obtained at the Western Plateau of Mt. Elbrus (the Caucasus) are presented. There is a distinct seasonal cycle in the isotopic composition record in these cores. Mean annual and seasonal values of the isotopic composition and accumulation rate were reconstructed for 89 years (1924–2012). These values were compared with the available regional meteorological data and the atmospheric circulation characteristics. It was shown that in the summer season the isotopic composition reflects the local temperature while in winter it depends on the atmospheric circulation.

The temperature and snow accumulation rate anomaly over the past 350 years have been reconstructed based on isotopic composition of shallow ice cores and snow pits samples as well as glaciological observations in pits and at stake farms located in Indian Ocean sector of East Antarctica. The relationship of temporal variability of isotopic composition of precipitation and surface air temperature in ensemble with sea surface temperature has been analyzed. The fingerprints of Little Ice Age and climatic shift 1970s have been defined. We have also figured out the influence of non-climatic drivers on the formation of signal in stable water isotopic series.

In November 2010 a new research unit was inaugurated in Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (St. Petersburg) – Climate and Environmental Research Laboratory (CERL) – that became the first lab in Russia dedicated to the complex studies of ice cores, paleoclimate and subglacial environments in Antarctica. The total investments to construct the laboratory were 28.8 million rubles, provided by Roshydromet and AARI in frames of implementing the program of International Polar Year. The total area of the laboratory is about 300 m² that includes mass-spectrometric and gas analyses labs, cold chambers and utility rooms. The CERL’s equipment comprises laser stable water isotope analyzer Picarro L2120-i, IR mass-spectrometer Delta V Plus, system of gas extraction from ice, facilities for ice petrographic observations, for ice core treatment and storage. Before 2014 CERL was the head unit in the project “Complex studies of Lake Vostok and glaciological investigations of Antarctica” of the sub-program “Antarctica” of the FTP “World Ocean”. Now CERL is the leading organization in International Associated Laboratory “Ice archives of climatic and environmental data” that combines 4 French and 5 Russian scientific research groups. In 2014 the specialists of CERL won a grant of Russian Science Foundation for fundamental scientific works implemented by operating research laboratories. Project 14-27-00030 “Evolution of climate, glaciation and subglacial environments of Antarctica from the deep ice core and Lake Vostok water sample studies” (2014–2016) is intended to refine the reconstruction of Antarctic climate history over the past 400,000 years using the newly developed geochemical methods of ice core studies. Another goal is to develop the approaches to study the hydrological parameters of subglacial Lake Vostok using the samples of lake ice and water. The funding to be received through the grant (58.5 million rubles) will be mainly spent to develop the analytical infrastructure of the laboratory. In particular, we plan to equip the “Delta” with the dual inlet system and “Gas Bench II” device, as well as to purchase the new generation of laser isotope analyzer, Picarro L2140-i. This will allow us to measure precisely the concentrations of deuterium, oxygen 18 and 17 in water, snow and ice samples, to define the О₂/N₂ ratio in the gas probes, as well as to develop new methods of ice core analyses.

Between the close-off depth and the bubble-to-hydrate transition zone in polar ice sheets, the geometrical properties of air bubbles, such as number concentration and size of bubbles, are mainly controlled by firn temperature and ice accumulation rate prevailing during the snow to ice transformation [3], and by the bubble compression in the course of bubbly ice densification [13]. This implies that the data on the bubble properties can be used for reconstruction of the past climate change. On the basis of our earlier studies of bubbly ice densification and the new measurements of air bubbles in the Antarctic ice cores, we have developed a theory of bubble evolution in polar ice and propose an inverse procedure for bubble size conversion to specified conditions at the close-off depth. Both outcomes of the research contribute to elaboration of the new paleoclimatological tool based on the bubble properties.

In January of 2008, during the 53rd Russian Antarctic Expedition, surface snow samples were taken from 13 shallow (0.7 to 1.5 m depth) snow pits along the first tractor traverse from Progress to Vostok stations, East Antarctica. Sub-surface snow/firn layers are dated from 2.1 to 18 yr. The total length of the coast to inland traverse is more than 1280 km. Here we analysed spatial variability of concentrations of sulphate ions and elements and their fluxes in the snow deposited within the 2006–2008 time interval. Anions were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the determination of selected metals, including Na, K, Mg, Ca and Al, was carried out by mass spectroscopy with atomization by induced coupled plasma (ICP-MS). Surface snow concentration records were examined for trends versus distance inland, elevation, accumulation rate and slope gradient. Na shows a significant positive correlation with accumulation rate, which decreases as distance from the sea and altitude increase. K, Ca and Mg concentrations do not show any significant relationship either with distance inland or with elevation. Maximal concentrations of these elements with a prominent Al peak are revealed in the middle part of the traverse (500–600 km from the coast). Analysis of element correlations and atmospheric circulation patterns allow us to suggest their terrestrial origin (e.g. aluminosilicates carried as a continental dust) from the Antarctic nunatak areas. Sulphate concentrations show no significant relationship with distance inland, elevation, slope gradient and accumulation rate. Non-sea salt secondary sulphate is the most important contribution to the total sulphate budget along the traverse. Sulphate of volcanic origin attributed to the Pinatubo eruption (1991) was revealed in the snow pit at 1276 km (depth 120–130 cm).