A two-phase model of electrical conduction in polar ice sheets

It has been suggested that the dc conductivity of polar ice sheets could be due to the presence of liquid layers at the grain boundaries. These layers would consist of a mixture of acids with water. We show that it is plausible that acids will be at three‐grain boundaries in polar ice. Using reliabl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Geophysical Research
Main Authors: Wolff, Eric W., Paren, J.G.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:unknown
Published: American Geophysical Union 1984
Subjects:
South Pole
South pole
Online Access:http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/523792/
https://doi.org/10.1029/JB089iB11p09433
Description
Summary:It has been suggested that the dc conductivity of polar ice sheets could be due to the presence of liquid layers at the grain boundaries. These layers would consist of a mixture of acids with water. We show that it is plausible that acids will be at three‐grain boundaries in polar ice. Using reliable data for H2SO4, HNO3, and HCl concentrations in ice at South Pole, we derive the correct magnitude and temperature dependence for its conductivity. The model explains the narrow range of ice conductivities found in polar regions.

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