Application of the Gravity Flow Theory to the Percolation of Melt Water Through Firn
Abstract Application of the gravity flow theory to the percolation of melt water through the firn in the accumulation area of a temperate glacier explains the occurrence of shock fronts in the melt-water flux. The time of propagation of a shock front moving from the surface through the entire firn w...
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Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press (CUP)
1981
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000011230 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000011230 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0022143000011230 2024-03-03T08:46:07+00:00 Application of the Gravity Flow Theory to the Percolation of Melt Water Through Firn Ambach, W. Blumthaler, M. Kirchlechner, P. 1981 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000011230 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000011230 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) Journal of Glaciology volume 27, issue 95, page 67-75 ISSN 0022-1430 1727-5652 Earth-Surface Processes journal-article 1981 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000011230 2024-02-08T08:36:15Z Abstract Application of the gravity flow theory to the percolation of melt water through the firn in the accumulation area of a temperate glacier explains the occurrence of shock fronts in the melt-water flux. The time of propagation of a shock front moving from the surface through the entire firn was calculated under various assumptions. Various time input functions of melt-water flux at the surface with constant total input volumes yield only slight differences in the time of propagation of the shock front at greater depths. The dependence of the time of propagation of a shock front on the input volume, on snow parameters, and on the total thickness of the firn was calculated. An approximately linear relation was found to exist between the time of propagation of a shock front moving through the firn and the total thickness of the firn. The drainage of melt water from the firn after the summer ablation period is also quantitatively explained by the gravity flow theory. All results are in good agreement with experimental data. Article in Journal/Newspaper Journal of Glaciology Cambridge University Press Journal of Glaciology 27 95 67 75 |
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Open Polar |
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Cambridge University Press |
op_collection_id |
crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
topic |
Earth-Surface Processes |
spellingShingle |
Earth-Surface Processes Ambach, W. Blumthaler, M. Kirchlechner, P. Application of the Gravity Flow Theory to the Percolation of Melt Water Through Firn |
topic_facet |
Earth-Surface Processes |
description |
Abstract Application of the gravity flow theory to the percolation of melt water through the firn in the accumulation area of a temperate glacier explains the occurrence of shock fronts in the melt-water flux. The time of propagation of a shock front moving from the surface through the entire firn was calculated under various assumptions. Various time input functions of melt-water flux at the surface with constant total input volumes yield only slight differences in the time of propagation of the shock front at greater depths. The dependence of the time of propagation of a shock front on the input volume, on snow parameters, and on the total thickness of the firn was calculated. An approximately linear relation was found to exist between the time of propagation of a shock front moving through the firn and the total thickness of the firn. The drainage of melt water from the firn after the summer ablation period is also quantitatively explained by the gravity flow theory. All results are in good agreement with experimental data. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Ambach, W. Blumthaler, M. Kirchlechner, P. |
author_facet |
Ambach, W. Blumthaler, M. Kirchlechner, P. |
author_sort |
Ambach, W. |
title |
Application of the Gravity Flow Theory to the Percolation of Melt Water Through Firn |
title_short |
Application of the Gravity Flow Theory to the Percolation of Melt Water Through Firn |
title_full |
Application of the Gravity Flow Theory to the Percolation of Melt Water Through Firn |
title_fullStr |
Application of the Gravity Flow Theory to the Percolation of Melt Water Through Firn |
title_full_unstemmed |
Application of the Gravity Flow Theory to the Percolation of Melt Water Through Firn |
title_sort |
application of the gravity flow theory to the percolation of melt water through firn |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
1981 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000011230 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000011230 |
genre |
Journal of Glaciology |
genre_facet |
Journal of Glaciology |
op_source |
Journal of Glaciology volume 27, issue 95, page 67-75 ISSN 0022-1430 1727-5652 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000011230 |
container_title |
Journal of Glaciology |
container_volume |
27 |
container_issue |
95 |
container_start_page |
67 |
op_container_end_page |
75 |
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1792502033308188672 |