Summary
The international project ICE MEMORY (www.ice-memory.org), recognized and sponsored by UNESCO, aims to drill the most significant mountain glaciers in the world currently at risk of disappearing due to global warming. The mountain areas of our planet are particularly sensitive to climate change and, at the current rate, scientists predict the total disappearance of most of the glaciers in the Alps below 3600 m of altitude by 2100. The samples taken will be transferred to Antarctica, the coldest placeon the planet. There, at the Italian-French base of Concordia, located in the center of the Antarctic plateau at more than 3200 m of altitude, they will be preserved as in a sanctuary, in what is the most reliable (and natural!) freezer in the world. A project that is a real mission and, by now, a real race against time.

Objectives
The Italian part of the ICE MEMORY International Program foresees the drilling of five glaciers, representative of the different national climates, both continental and maritime. The selection includes: two glaciers in the Eastern Alps (Marmolada and Montasio), the last remaining glacial body in the Apennines (Calderone al Gran Sasso d’Italia) and two high-altitude glaciers in the Western Alps (Grand Combin and Monte Rosa). While one ice core will be transferred to Antarctica, another will be analyzed to determine the main chemical, physical and isotopic parameters.

Project Partners
• Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI, CH)
• Centre National de la Recherche scientifique (CNRS, F)
• French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD, F)
• ENEA - PNRA

Figures
• F1 - Riccardo Selvatico - Base camp at Grand Combin (4100m) (CNR-ISP)
• F2 - Riccardo Selvatico - Drilling head ready for working (CNR-ISP)
• F3 - Riccardo Selvatico - Ice core section (CNR-ISP)
• F4 - Riccardo Selvatico - Night work at the drilling tend (CNR-ISP)