Preserve the ice memory for future generations

A historic journey ahead: first mountain ice cores to be transported to Antarctica

The first Ice Memory alpine ice cores – extracted between 2016 and 2023 - will leave the laboratory cold rooms of the CNR-ISP in Venice in October for a historic journey from Europe to the High Plateau of Antarctica where the annual mean temperature is -50°C, a safe environment for fragile ice cores.

Leaving the port of Trieste - Italy mid-October, the first part of Ice Memory heritage will travel aboard the icebreaker - RV Laura Bassi, an Italian research vessel. The maritime shipping has been assigned to the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics - OGS, that will have the responsibility for the cold chain, keeping the precious archives under strict monitoring. After crossing the Atlantic and sailing to Christchurch, New Zealand, the ice cores will finally reach the Antarctic continent in early December, at the Italian Station Mario Zucchelli. They will then be transported by plane to the Franco-Italian Station, Concordia, enabled by the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA). Concordia Station is co-managed by the Italian National Antarctic Research Program (PNRA) and the French Polar Institute (IPEV).

"The transport of the initial Ice Memory samples to Antarctica marks a pivotal moment, truly bringing the project full circle. It conclusively demonstrates the complete feasibility of this vital endeavor to safeguard our planet's climate archives." said Carlo Barbante Professor at Ca' Foscari University of Venice, senior associate at CNR-ISP, Italy, and Vice Chair of Ice Memory Foundation.

This legacy will be safeguarded in the dedicated Ice Memory Sanctuary approved by The Antarctic Treaty System in 2024 (ATCM46) and funded by the Prince Albert 2 Foundation. In the form of a cave dug into the snow, the heritage cores will be stored at a stable temperature of - 50°C, that will guarantee a long-term preservation of the samples using 100% “natural” storage with no energy consumption required for refrigeration, thereby protecting the precious samples from any risk of disrupted refrigeration (technical problems, human error, economic crises, conflict, etc.).

“My foundation has been committed with the Ice Memory initiative since its genesis in 2015. We have an historic responsibility today to engage with Ice Memory to build up a heritage of glacial archives for our children.” S.A.S Prince Albert 2 of Monaco, Honorary President of the Ice Memory Foundation.



Dozens of other Ice Memory heritage ice cores from all over the world will join them in the coming years and a dedicated international governance is under construction.

“Thanks to this legacy, under international governance, next generations of scientists will be able to make new discoveries that will continue to guide policy decisions to build sustainable conditions for humanity”, said Anne-Catherine Ohlmann, Director of the Ice Memory Foundation.

A strong symbol of international scientific cooperation, marking the launch of the United Nations’ Cryospheric Decade

The preservation of Ice Memory from the Pamir glaciers and the rescue of this ice core heritage in Concordia is a powerful symbol of international scientific cooperation dedicated to the ice core heritage.

“We can all be proud — France and Tajikistan together — that at the launch of this UN Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences, such an emblematic cooperation is taking shape," said Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, French Ambassador for the Poles and Maritime Issues. This operation marks a true flagship initiative and a milestone at the launch of the Decade.

About the Ice Memory sanctuary in Antarctica

• Locations/Journey: Venice -> Trieste (IT) -> Christchurch (NZ) -> Mario Zucchelli Station -> Concordia Station (ANT)
• Maritime transport: aboard the Research Vessel Laura Bassi (IT)
• Date: departure from Venice early October / estimated arrival December
• Logistic suppliers: ENEA, OGS / IPEV
• Institutional Partners: CNR-ISP / Ice Memory Foundation

About the Concordia station co-management

• PNRA, funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR), is managed by the CNR for scientific coordination, ENEA for logistical planning and organization of activities at Antarctic bases, and OGS for the technical and scientific management of the icebreaker Laura Bassi.
• IPEV is the French agency of means and skills at the service of scientific research in the Polar Regions.French Ministry of Research, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF), National Centre for Space Research (CNES), French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (Ifremer) and Météo France (the French national meteorological service) are executive members of the agency.