Densification of Snow on the Ice Sheet of Ellsworth Land and the Southern Antarctic Peninsula

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Author: Behrendt, John C.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1965
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; Ellsworth Land; Antarc*; Ice Sheet; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000018426; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000018426

Abstract Density-depth curves constructed from seismic travel-time data observed at 25 locations, show a large variation over an essentially isothermal area ( T = −22±2.6° C). This is correlated with the wide range of mean annual accumulation values. ( A = 20 to 50g./cm. 2 yr). Quantitative estimates of mean annual accumulation can be obtained from seismic refraction data in this area by the expression A = 23.5+0.049(3500− V 200 ) where V 200 is the compressional wave velocity (m./sec.) observed at 200 m. from the shot point. The density-depth curves can be used to give estimates of accumulation by the expression: where ρ 40 is the density (g./cm. 3 ) at 40 m. depth. The internal consistency of these methods is indicated by the standard deviation of ±2.9./cm. 2 yr. for comparisons of accumulation estimates. The theoretical basis for these results is discussed.