Determination of a-Axis Orientations of Polycrystalline Ice

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Author: Matsuda, Masuyoshi
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1979
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000014143; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000014143

Abstract Two new methods have been devised for measurement of crystallographic lattice orientations of individual crystals in polycrystalline ice. The first uses edge-length ratios of etch pits. The second uses a combination of optical measurement on a thin section and etch-pit technique. Although the second method does not work for crystals with their c -axis oriented parallel to the thin section, it is much simpler and more practical than the first method. When used on polycrystalline glacier ice, this method gave the three a -axes orientations as well as c -axis orientation for each crystal with an accuracy of 5°.