Variations of near-surface firn density in the lower accumulation area of the Greenland ice sheet, Pâkitsoq, West Greenland

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Braithwaite, Roger J., Laternser, Martin, Pfeffer, W. Tad
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1994
• Subjects: Greenland; Ice Sheet; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s002214300001234x; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S002214300001234X

Abstract Firn-density variations have been studied in the lower accumulation area of the Greenland ice sheet (1440-1620 m a.s.l.) near Pâkitsoq, West Greenland. The main control on density in the near-surface firn layer (of 5-10 m thickness) is the formation of ice layers by the refreezing of meltwater that reaches depths of 2-4 m below the surface. The density variations are described by the ratio of annual surface melt M to the annual accumulation C . The ratio M/C is about 0.6 at the run-off limit (at about 1400 m a.s.l. in the study area) where refreezing of meltwater transforms snow into impermeable ice. The mean density of near-surface firn decreases with elevation, reflecting a decrease in melt with elevation. There is a surprising decrease in firn density at depths of more than about 4 m below the 1991 summer surface, which reflects lower melt rates and/or higher accumulation in the early 1980s and late 1970s when this firn was passing through the surface layer. The formation of such low-density firn may have partially contributed to the 1978-85 thickening of the ice sheet observed by satellite-radar altimetry. Near-surface firn density is therefore very sensitive to climate change and might be an attractive target for climate monitoring.