The permafrost crackles underfoot as Dr. Liang Chen gently places a meter-long cylinder of ice into a protective case. We’re standing at 1,400 meters above sea level on the Agassiz Ice Cap in Nunavut, where temperatures hover around -15°C despite it being late May. I’ve been invited to observe what scientists are calling a historic breakthrough – the extraction of the deepest ice core ever recovered in Canada.
“This core represents 22,000 years of Earth’s climate history,” says Chen, senior glaciologist with the Geological Survey of Canada, his breath visible in the Arctic air. “Each bubble trapped inside is like a time capsule of ancient atmosphere.”
The research team has just completed drilling to a depth of 2,712 meters, surpassing the previous Canadian record by more than 200 meters. The achievement marks the culmination of a four-year project involving Canadian, American, and Danish scientists working in one of the world’s most unforgiving environments.
Standing on the vast white expanse, it’s difficult to comprehend the scale of what lies beneath our feet. These layers of compressed snow and ice have accumulated year after year, trapping air, dust, and chemical compounds that provide crucial data about Earth’s past climate conditions.
Dr. Sarah Williams, a climate scientist from the University of Calgary who wasn’t involved in the drilling but has been analyzing preliminary samples, explains why this matters. “The Agassiz ice core is particularly valuable because it covers a period when humans first began significant agriculture. We can examine how natural climate variability affected early civilization development and compare it with today’s human-driven climate change.”
The logistics of the operation are staggering. The drilling camp consists of a handful of insulated tents and specialized equipment transported by Twin Otter aircraft. Twenty researchers rotate through the remote site in two-week shifts, working around the clock during the brief Arctic summer when conditions allow for drilling.
“We’re racing against time,” explains project lead Dr. Martin Jeffries of Environment and Climate Change Canada. “Arctic ice caps are melting at unprecedented rates. The climate record preserved here could disappear within decades.”
The drilling itself uses a specialized hollow bit that cuts around a central column of ice, allowing researchers to retrieve intact cores roughly 10 centimeters in diameter. These delicate cylinders are carefully cataloged, packaged, and transported to temperature-controlled facilities in Ottawa and Copenhagen for analysis.
The ice reveals its secrets through multiple analytical techniques. Air bubbles trapped within the ice contain samples of ancient atmosphere, allowing scientists to measure past levels of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane. Chemical isotopes in the frozen water reveal temperature patterns, while dust and pollen trapped in the ice provide clues about wind patterns and vegetation.
Marie Picard, an atmospheric chemist examining the ice cores, shows me a section where a faint gray band is visible. “This layer contains ash from a massive volcanic eruption that occurred around 11,700 years ago, marking the end of the last ice age,” she says. “These markers help us precisely date each section and correlate our findings with other climate records worldwide.”
The Agassiz project also represents a significant collaboration with Inuit communities. Local guides and knowledge keepers have provided critical insights about changing ice conditions and historical weather patterns. Sheila Koonoo, an elder from nearby Grise Fiord, has been documenting oral histories that span generations.
“My grandfather spoke of times when the ice was different, when hunting patterns had to change,” Koonoo tells me as we share tea in the camp’s communal tent. “What scientists are finding in the ice confirms what our elders have been saying for years.”
The Canadian Ice Core Archive at the University of Alberta will house portions of the cores, ensuring researchers have access to these samples for decades to come. The facility maintains a constant temperature of -40°C to preserve the integrity of the ice.
Initial findings have already yielded surprising results. Preliminary analysis suggests that during previous warm periods, Arctic temperatures rose more rapidly than climate models had predicted. This raises concerns about current warming trends potentially triggering faster changes than anticipated.
Dr. Chen points to a section of core where the ice appears clearer than surrounding layers. “This represents a period roughly 8,000 years ago when temperatures were slightly warmer than pre-industrial times. We’re already exceeding those temperatures today, and the rate of change is much faster.”
The research team plans to publish comprehensive findings in early 2026, but the work is already informing climate projections. The Natural Resources Canada climate adaptation portal has incorporated preliminary data to help northern communities prepare for environmental changes.
As we prepare to leave the ice cap, a gentle snow begins to fall. New layers are forming even as scientists race to understand the old ones. Dr. Jeffries looks up thoughtfully.
“Each snowflake that falls today carries information about our world,” he says. “Future scientists might drill here and find traces of our time – the carbon we released, the particles from our industries. I wonder what story our layer will tell.”
The Agassiz ice core stands as both scientific triumph and urgent warning – a 2,712-meter testament to Earth’s constantly changing climate and our growing understanding of its complexity.
