Ice properties
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Ice properties |
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home > morphology > ice properties |
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The thermodynamic evolution of the ice cover is strongly
influenced by the physical properties of the ice. These physical
properties include ice temperature, salinity, density, brine volume and
permeability. Ice cores were routinely taken to measure these properties. |
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Ice core taken from Elson Lagoon June 2001. Note the band of dirty ice at the top of the core. |
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Cores were drilled with a 10-cm diameter fiberglass-barrel corer both near the surface for studies of physical properties relevant for ice albedo and meltwater drainage as well as through the entire ice thickness for determination of temperature, salinity and other chemical parameters. The adjacent figure shows an exemplary salinity and temperature profile, alongside a photograph indicating core stratigraphy at right. Note in particular the highly drained, deteriorated layer at the surface, associated with low salinities and of great importance for the surface albedo. As a result of desalination processes salinity decreases and temperature increases towards the top of the ice surface.
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