Two deep ice cores successfully extracted from the endangered Grand Combin glacier, preserved for heritage and scientific analysis.
Objectives and key results
Number of ice cores drilled: 2 Drilling depth: 99.5 m and 98.9 m Climate record retrieved: Several centuries of Alpine climate history
1 core dedicated to contemporary scientific analysis
1 core dedicated to long-term preservation in Antarctica
In June 2025, two deep ice cores were successfully extracted from the endangered Corbassière Glacier on the Grand Combin massif — securing one of the most threatened climate archives in the European Alps.
Why this site?
The Corbassière Glacier, located at 4,100 metres on the Grand Combin massif, straddles the border between Switzerland and Italy. It represents one of the most endangered glacial archives in the Alps.
This site was selected because:
It preserves centuries of Alpine climate records
It is highly vulnerable to accelerated warming
It provides crucial data for understanding environmental and hydrological changes in Europe
A first drilling attempt in 2020 had to be halted due to water infiltration and instability in the upper layers — a direct consequence of climate change. The 2025 mission adopted a new electrothermal drill, enabling access to deeper, better-preserved ice.
The expedition
Period: June 2025 Altitude: 4,100 m Conditions: Extreme alpine environment
The drilling took place under severe conditions:
Winds up to 100 km/h
Temperatures down to –35°C
Frequent snowfall
After an initial interruption at 57 m, the team successfully reached bedrock twice.
The measured temperature of –8°C at the base confirms the excellent preservation quality of the glacier archive.
As Carlo Barbante, Professor at Ca’ Foscari University, Senior Associate at CNR-ISP and Vice-Chair of the Ice Memory Foundation, stated: “The team's preparation and dedication enabled us to bring back a fundamental ice sample for understanding the environmental and climatic dynamics of the Alps.”
The team
The expedition team operated between the Ollomont base camp (Valle d’Aosta) and the remote Corbassière glacier field site.
Scientific team:
Jacopo Gabrieli, CNR-ISP
Fabrizio De Blasi, CNR-ISP
Giulio Cozzi, CNR-ISP
Daniele Zannoni, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
Stefano Frassati, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
Agnese Petteni, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
Giulia Vitale, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
Federico Della Vecchia, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
Additional contributors:
Pietro Di Sopra, Fondazione Montagna Sicura
Victor Zagorodnov, Core drill constructor
Teodoro Bizzocchi, Mountain guide
Elisabetta Rorato, Field medic
Riccardo Selvatico, Photographer & videomaker
Geophysical surveys were conducted by Stefano Urbini (INGV).
Destination of the ice cores
The expedition forms part of Ice Memory’s global objective to collect and safeguard 20 ice cores from endangered sites worldwide.
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