The Electrical Properties of Ice Surfaces

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Maeno, Norikazu, Nishimura, Hiroshi
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1978
• Subjects: Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000033402; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000033402

Abstract The surface conductivity of monocrystalline ice was measured as a function of temperature impurity concentration, field-strength, and other variables. At temperature, below about –6°C the surface conductivity was found to follow the Arrhenius equation with an activation energy of 33±2 kcal mol −1 (1.43±0.09 eV). Small amounts of impurities contained within the ice increased the surface conductivity and decreased the actuation energy: for HF-doped ice the activation energy was reduced to 10.0 kcal mol −1 (0.44 eV). Mechanical treatment of the ice surface increased the surface conduction. At temperatures above about —6 ° C the surface conductivity increased more rapidly with the rise in temperature; this is explained in terms of the appearance and development of a quasi-liquid layer on the ice surface. The electrical behaviour of sublimed ice surfaces was found to vary at a temperature around —9 ° C. At higher temperature a sharp, instantaneous current increase was observed as evacuation began; this was considered to be caused by the formation of ionic states due to the rapid evaporation of quasi-liquid layers. It was concluded that the temperature above which the ice surface was covered with a quasi-liquid layer lay in the range — 6 to — 9 ° C.