GISP2 HITS BOTTOM

ON 1 JULY 1993, AT 2:48 PM LOCAL, THE U.S. GREENLAND ICESHEET
PROJECT TWO (GISP2) LOCATED IN CENTRAL GREENLAND (N72 34', W38
27' ELEVATION 3208 METERS ASL) STRUCK ROCK. THIS COMPLETES THE
LONGEST ENVIRONMENTAL RECORD (3053.51 METERS, REPRESENTING
APPROXIMATELY 250,000 YEARS OF THE EARTH'S HISTORY) EVER
OBTAINED FROM AN ICE CORE IN THE WORLD AND THE LONGEST SUCH
RECORD POSSIBLE FROM THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE. THIS NSF SPONSORED
PROJECT TOOK 5 YEARS AND THE EFFORTS OF INDIVIDUALS FROM 18 US
INSTITUTIONS. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THIS RECORD WILL CONTRIBUTE
SUBSTANTIALLY TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND PROVIDE
A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON OUR ENVIRONMENT.


      Jim Acker
      jgacker@neptune.gsfc.nasa.gov