Regelation and the Deformation of Wet Snow

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Colbeck, S. C., Parssinen, N.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1978
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s002214300003375x; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S002214300003375X

Abstract The thermodynamics of phase equilibrium control the temperature distribution around the ice particles in wet snow. When the snow is stressed, pressure melting occurs at the inter-particle contacts and the snow densifies. Densification is described by a physical model which simulates the heat flow, meltwater flow, and particle geometry. The effects of ionic impurities, liquid saturation, and particle size are demonstrated. Typical values of the temperature difference, inter-particle film size, and density are calculated as functions of time. The calculated rates of compaction are too large, hence, at some later time, the effects of simultaneous grain growth must be added to the model.