Laser dust logging of the EPICA Dome C borehole

We deployed a laser dust logger in the EPICA Dome C Ice Core (EDC) borehole in order to obtain a detailed record of dust and ash in order to study the particulate stratigraphy, volcanology, glaciology and climatology at the site. The Dust Logger device is described in detail elsewhere, most recently here: Journal of Glaciology, Volume 59, Issue 218 (2013) pp. 1117 - 1128, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3189/2013JoG13J068. Because the borehole fluid was turbid at the time of the log, the resolution of the instrument was much lower (>10 cm) than the nominal 2-3 mm thickness of the laser line. The instrument is lowered into the borehole and retrieved using a surface logging winch over the course of several hours. Data are acquired at the surface in real time using telemetry with the logger over the deployment cable. A small correction has been applied to compensate for the temperature dependence of the laser brightness.