Sensitivity of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet to 2°C – SWAIS2C: KIS 3 2023/24 on-ice report

SWAIS2C is an international scientific project involving researchers from 10 countries that aims to address a key over-arching question: Under what climatic conditions does the Ross Ice Shelf and West Antarctic Ice Sheet collapse? Our team will address this question through an integrated programme of scientific drilling, environmental monitoring, geological analysis and numerical modelling. Results will contribute to international efforts to improve understanding of Antarctic ice-sheet dynamics during Earth’s recent past and to use this knowledge to enhance our ability to project future sea-level rise. This report offers: (1) a summary of the over-arching scientific aims of SWAIS2C and our primary drilling targets at sites seaward of the grounding zone of the Kamb Ice Stream and on the Crary Ice Rise; (2) an overview of key activities and events that occurred over a nine-year period as we acquired site-survey data, developed drilling technology and applied for funding to support the drilling and science partnership; and (3) a summary of the activities, challenges and achievements of the first drilling season at the Kamb Ice Stream Site 3 (KIS3). A primary aim for this report is to provide a reference document to guide future efforts.