DC resistivity measurements on the sea ice near Pond Inlet, N.W.T. (Baffin Island)

• Main Authors: Thyssen, F., Kohnen, H., Cowan, M. W., Timco, G. W.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 1974
• Subjects: Baffin Island; Pond Inlet; Baffin; Polarforschung; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.2312/polarforschung.44.2.117; https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/object/?id=65aa51de-d2c1-4db4-98c4-fc4a08f5f8c1; https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/fra/voir/objet/?id=65aa51de-d2c1-4db4-98c4-fc4a08f5f8c1

Extensive dc-resistivity measurements were carried out in May and June 1972 near Pond Inlet, N. W. T. to determine the resistivity and the anisotropy of the sea ice. The sea ice proved to be transversely isotropic with regard to dc currents. The coefficient of anisotropy of undistrubed ice is approximately λ = 0,26. λ increased up to 1 in heavily disturbed parts of the ice cover. Ice thicknesses, determined from the dc-soundings without taking into account anisotropy, were too small compared with the true thicknesses determined from drilling. The average resistivity of the sea ice decreased significantly during the observation period according to the increase of the brine volume. The conductivity of the ice is controlled by this brine content since the ice matrix has an extremly low conductivity. The relation between the resistivity and the brine volume is compared with a model of conductivity in porous media. Peer reviewed: Yes NRC publication: No