Tours of the ICF are curtailed until December 2024 due to a higher-than-usual volume of ice core processing and construction activities adjacent to our facility.
An NSF facility for storing, curating, and studying ice cores from the glaciated regions of the world
The U.S. National Science Foundation Ice Core Facility (NSF-ICF) — formerly the National Ice Core Laboratory (NICL) — is a facility for storing, curating, and studying meteoric ice cores recovered from the glaciated regions of the world. NSF-ICF allows scientists to conduct examinations and measurements on ice cores, and it preserves the integrity of these ice cores in a long-term repository for future investigations.
Requests for samples from NSF-ICF are coordinated through the Science Director. Samples are available to investigators, but NSF-funded investigators may be given priority to certain core sections. Investigators must complete the SAMPLE REQUEST/FACILITY USE FORM and email it to the SMO at least four weeks in advance of their proposal submission deadline if the investigator plans to:
Learn about the NSF-ICF facility, what we do at NSF-ICF, our location, and our contact information.
Learn about requesting samples, storing ice cores, using NSF-ICF, and scheduling a sample visit.
Learn about ice cores, what we do at NSF-ICF, how ice cores are drilled, and watch videos about ice cores.