Water movement in the firn of Storglaciären, Sweden

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Author: Schneider, Thomas
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1999
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Storglaciären; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000001787; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000001787

Abstract The hydraulic properties of the firn on Storglaciären, Sweden, were investigated in firn cores by water-table measurements and pumping tests. The mean density of the firn was 800 850 kg m 3 , giving an effective porosity of 0.073. The lower part of the firn layer was saturated with water, producing a maximum saturated layer of 5 m in late July. Hydraulic conductivity of the firn aquifer was determined from pumping tests to be 4.9 × 10 5 m s 1 . Percolation velocity, calculated from the time lag of maximal water input at the glacier surface and the water-level peaks, was 0.25 m h 1 . Percolation velocity increased over the ablation season, indicating a widening of the percolation pathways. A decrease in percolation velocity with percolation depth was found, reflecting decreasing permeability. The firn–water table responded to water input at the glacier surface with a delay of about 3 days. No diurnal variations were found in an area which was not influenced by fast drainage, indicating a diffusion of diurnal variations in meltwater production. One borehole intersected a water-filled cavity. Water level in this cavity showed diurnal variations, which probably were caused by diurnally produced meltwater waves moving fast through englacial conduits.