Abstract. The ice microstructure (grain boundaries) is a key feature used to study ice evolution and to investigate past climatic changes. We studied a deep ice core, in Dome Concordia, Antarctica, which records past mechanical deformations. We measured a "texture tensor" which characterizes the pattern geometry and reveals local heterogeneities of deformation along the core. These results question key assumptions of the current models used for dating.

PACS numbers: 83.80.Nb, 81.70.-q, 62.20.Fe

Print publication: Issue 6 (September 2004)
Received 5 April 2004, in final form and accepted for publication 8 July 2004