Abstract:
Recognition of the need for a polar rock repository grew from within NSF to help fulfill obligations under the Antarctic Treaty for greater international data access and to diminish the operational footprint of fieldwork in Antarctica. To that end, the United State Polar Rock Repository was created at The Ohio State University to accept rock samples and associated metadata from polar areas. This ... facility provides a way for researchers to evaluate samples before proposing a research program in Antarctica, hence lessening the environmental impact and costs associated with field work. The USPRR also maintains online sample, field map and rock physical property databases. The intellectual merit of the USPRR is that the rock repository disseminates scientific information to researchers, educators and students from around the world via the website: http://bprc.mps.ohio-state.edu/rr/samples/. The USPRR integrates geologic and geophysical data from cataloged samples to provide additional modeling constraints for geophysical modeling.
The broader impacts of the USPRR facility include lessening the operational footprint in Antarctica and providing information for educators and children to learn about polar geology via the website and by touring the facility. For children in the K-12 age range, the USPRR has created these educational links: a Virtual Tour of the Repository, Meet the Curators, Kids Space and Frequently Asked Questions. Working at the repository gives university students an opportunity to be trained in the geology of Antarctica and learn new skills in digital imaging, curation and databases.
Quality
The quality of the data set is limited by the detail of individual field notes and geographic place names in Antarctica.
Access Constraints
Rock sample information and images are accessible from the USPRR online database. Sample requests can also be made online. Some photographic images are not yet available online.
Email:
curator at bprc.mps.ohio-state.edu, grunow.1 at osu.edu
Contact Address:
United States Polar Rock Repository
Byrd Polar Research Center
Ohio State University
108 Scott Hall
1090 Carmack Road
City:
Columbus
Province or State:
Ohio
Postal Code:
43210
Country:
USA
Publications/References
Grunow, Anne M., Elliot, David H., and Codispoti, Julie E., 2008, "The United States Polar Rock Repository: A Geological Resource for the Earth Science Community", U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007-1047, SRP 068, Alan Cooper, Carol Raymond, and the 10th ISAES Editorial Team, in "Antarctica: A Keystone in a Changing World, Online Proceedings for the 10th International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences".
