A detailed radiostratigraphic data set for the central East Antarctic Plateau spanning from the Holocene to the mid-Pleistocene

We present an ice-penetrating radar data set which consists of 26 internal reflecting horizons (IRHs) that cover the entire Dome C area of the East Antarctic plateau, the most extensive to date in the region. This data set uses radar surveys collected over the space of 10 years, starting with an airborne international collaboration in 2008 to explore the region, up to the detailed ground-based surveys in support of the Beyond EPICA - Oldest Ice (BE-OI) European Consortium. Through direct correlation with the EPICA-DC ice core, we date 19 IRHs that span the past four glacial cycles, from 10 ka, beginning of the Holocene, to over 350 ka, ranging from 10% to 83% of the ice thickness at the EPICA-DC ice core site. We indirectly date and provide stratigraphic information for seven older IRHs using a 1D ice flow inverse model, going back to an estimated 700 ka. Depth and age uncertainties are quantified for all IRHs and provided as part of the data set.

Automated summary

This study presents a comprehensive ice-penetrating radar data set covering the Dome C area of the East Antarctic plateau, including 26 internal reflecting horizons (IRHs) collected over 10 years. By correlating with the EPICA-DC ice core, 19 IRHs spanning four glacial cycles were dated, along with indirect dating of seven older IRHs using a 1D ice flow inverse model. Depth and age uncertainties for all IRHs were quantified and provided as part of the data set.