STRATIGRAPHIC STUDIES IN THE SNOW AND FIRN OF THE GREENLAND ICE SHEET
Abstract
During a 4-yr period (1952-55) 146 pit studies and 288 supplementary Rammsonde profiles were made along 1100 miles of oversnow traverse in western Greenland. Temperature, density, ram hardness, and grain size were measured in the strata exposed in each pit. Stratification of snow, resulting from variations in conditions of deposition and emphasized by diagenesis, gives a sequence of recognizable annual layers in the upper 10 to 20 m which can be correlated between pits to provide a picture of annual accumulation. The concept of facies is applied to the ice sheet. Four diagenetic facie are recognized: (1) ablation; (2) soaked; (3) percolation; and (4) dry-snow. A revised estimate for the balance of the ice sheet gives a slightly positive balance which is interpreted to mean that the Greenland ice sheet is essentially in e uilibrium with present-day climate.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0288219
Entities
People
- Carl S. Benson
Organizations
- Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory