Isua, Greenland: Glacier Freezing Study.
Abstract
A scheme for cooling the lower portion of the edge of the Greenland ice sheet, which abuts a potential mining operation, is examined. The magnitude of cooling which may be accomplished by drilling a series of holes about the periphery of the mine site is determined as a function of hole size, spacing and time. Refrigeration is accomplished by pumping a coolant downhole in a central pipe, then uphole in an annulus between the pipe and hole wall, and then through a thin-walled pipe exposed to the surface climate above the ice sheet. It was found possible to achieve a temperature change in the ice of the order of --1C with hole spacings and pumping requirements which are considered reasonable. Other effects are briefly examined and include an estimate of the basal water thickness and flow rates.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1975
- Accession Number
- ADA009705
Entities
People
- George D. Ashton
Organizations
- Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory