Snow and Firn Permeability: Characteristics of Snow Megadunes and their Potential Effects on Ice Core Interpretation
Summary
This data set contains firn physical properties measured in two meter snow pits and from deeper, 12- to 30-meter firn cores. The physical properties measured in the snow pits include density, permeability and microstructure (grain size and pore size). The physical properties measured on firn cores include density, permeability, diffusivity and microstructure. Data are available in Microsoft Excel format and ADOBE PDF and are available via FTP.
Citing These Data
The following example shows how to cite the use of this data set in a publication. For more information, see our Use and Copyright Web page.
Albert, Mary, Zoe Courville and Lawrence Cathles. 2007. Characteristics of Snow Megadunes and their Potential Effects on Ice Core Interpretation: Snow and Firn Permeability. Boulder, Colorado USA: National Snow and Ice Data Center. http://dx.doi.org/10.7265/N5639MPD.
Overview Table
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Data format | Data are provided as space-delimited ASCII text files and Microsoft Excel (.xls) files. |
| Spatial coverage and resolution |
Southernmost Latitude: 80.7802° S Northernmost Latitude: 80.5304° S Westernmost Longitude: 124.0218° E Easternmost Longitude: 126.0302° E Elevation: 2900 m |
| Temporal coverage and resolution | 4 January 2004 to 20 January 2004 |
| File naming convention | permdata.xls thcdata.xls densdata.xls 2005jf000429_f03_rev.pdf |
| File size | Approximately 340 KB. |
| Parameter(s) | snow density, permeability, microstructure and thermal conductivity |
| Procedures for obtaining data | available via FTP |
Table of Contents
1. Contacts and Acknowledgments
2. Detailed Data Description
3. Data Access and Tools
4. Data Acquisition and Processing
5. References and Related Publications
6. Document Information
1. Contacts and Acknowledgments
Investigator(s)
Mary Albert
Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory
72 Lyme Road
Hanover, New Hampshire
USA 03755-1290
Zoe Courville
Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory
72 Lyme Road
Hanover, New Hampshire
USA 03755-1290
Lawrence Cathles
University of Chicago
Department of the Geophysical Sciences
5734 S. Ellis Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60637 USA
Technical Contact
NSIDC User Services
National Snow and Ice Data Center
CIRES, 449 UCB
University of Colorado
Boulder, CO 80309-0449 USA
phone: +1 303.492.6199
fax: +1 303.492.2468
form: Contact NSIDC User Services
e-mail: nsidc@nsidc.org
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by National Science Foundation (NSF) Office of Polar Programs (OPP) grant 0125276 awarded to M. Albert.
2. Detailed Data Description
Format
Data files are in Microsoft Excel format viewable with spreadsheet software and an Adobe Acrobat PDF.
File Naming Convention
Files are named according to the following convention.
| File name | File Size | Description |
.xls |
340 KB | Microsoft Excel File |
Spatial Coverage
Southernmost Latitude: 80.7802° S
Northernmost Latitude: 80.5304° S
Westernmost Longitude: 124.0218° E
Easternmost Longitude: 126.0302° E
Elevation: 2900 m
Parameter or Variable
Parameter Description
The measured parameters are snow density, permeability, microstructure and thermal conductivity.
Sample Data Record
The data below are the first 10 data samples showing density data.
depth |
pit1 |
pit2 |
pit3 |
1.5 |
0.42 |
0.36 |
0.25 |
4.5 |
0.27 |
0.42 |
0.36 |
7.5 |
0.41 |
0.48 |
0.28 |
10.5 |
0.31 |
0.44 |
0.36 |
13.5 |
0.36 |
0.39 |
0.41 |
16.5 |
0.35 |
0.4 |
0.43 |
19.5 |
0.3 |
0.39 |
0.41 |
22.5 |
0.3 |
0.39 |
0.36 |
25.5 |
0.43 |
0.38 |
0.29 |
28.5 |
0.48 |
0.42 |
0.38 |
Data Access
Volume
The data set is approximately 340 KB.
Related Data Collections
- AWS Data: Characteristics of Snow Megadunes and Their Potential Effect on Ice Core Interpretation
- GPR and GPS Data: Characteristics of Snow Megadunes and their Potential Effects on Ice Core Interpretation
4. Data Acquisition and Processing
Sensor or Instrument Description
The custom designed permeameter draws air through the sample, and measures the pressure drop and flow rate through the sample.
Data Acquisition Methods
Locations:
Pit 1 80.77914 S, 124.28796 E
Pit 2 80.7901 S, 124.4345 E
Pit 3 80.7754 S, 124.526 E
Density in densdata.xls, taken using 100cc boxcutter and spring scale
depth (cm) at center of sample, density (g/cc)
Dates: pit 1 Jan 07 04, pit 2 Jan 11 04, pit 3 Jan 16 04
Permeability in permdata.xls, measured using CRREL permeameter
depth (cm) at center of sample, permeability (x 10-10 m2)
Dates: pit 1 Jan 09 04, pit 2 Jan 12 04, pit 3 Jan 17 04
Microstructure in msdata.xls, done following method of Perla (1989)
depth (cm), center of sample, grain size, pore size (mm)
Dates: pit 1 Jan 08 04, pit 2 Jan 11 04, pit 3 Jan 17 04
Thermal conductivity in thcdata.xls, measured in lab using transient needle probe depth (cm) at center of sample, thermal conductivity, W m-1 K-1, samples collected Jan 07-16 04
5. References and Related Publications
Albert, M. R., C. A. Shuman, Z. R. Courville, R. Bauer, M. A. Fahnestock, and T. A. Scambos. 2004. Extreme firn metamorphism: impact of decades of vapor transport on near-surface firn at a low-accumulation glazed site on the East Antarctic Plateau. Annals of Glaciology 39: 73-78.
Campbell Scientific, Inc. 2002. CR10X Measurement and Control Module Operator's Manual.
Courville, Z. R., M. R. Albert, and J. Severinghaus. 2002. Firn physical characteristics and impact on interstitial convection and diffusion in the megadunes of East Antarctica. Eos. Trans. AGU 85(47). Fall Meeting Suppl., Abstract C31C-06.
Courville, Z. R., M. R. Albert, M. A. Fahnestock, and L. Cathles. 2005. Impact of accumulation rate on firn properties. Eos. Trans. AGU 86(52). Fall Meeting Suppl., Abstract C21B-1108.
Courville, Z. R., M. Albert, M. Fahnestock, L. M. Cathles. 2006. Impact of accumulation hiatus on the physical properties of firn at a low accumulation site. Journal of Geophysical Research. In review.
Fahnestock, M. A., T. A. Scambos, C. A. Shuman, et. al. 2000. Snow megadune fields on the East Antarctic Plateau: extreme atmosphere-ice interaction. Geophysical Research Letters 27(22): 3719-3722.
Fahnestock, M. A., C. A. Shuman, M. R. Albert, and T. A. Scambos. 2002. Satellite, observational, meteorological and thermal records from two sites in the Antarctic megadunes stability of atmospheric forcing, thermal cracking, and the seasonal evolution of the thermal profile. Eos. Trans. AGU 85(47). Fall Meeting Suppl., Abstract C31C-03.
Fahnestock, M. A., C. A. Shuman, T. A. Scambos, M. R. Albert, T. Haran, Z. R. Courville, and R. Bauer. 2005. Mapping Antarctic megadunes and other accumulation-related features on the East Antarctic Plateau. Eos. Trans. AGU 86(52). Fall Meeting Suppl., Abstract C13A-06.
Frezzotti, M., S. Gandolfi, F. La Marca, and S. Urbini. 2002. Snow dunes and glazed surfaces in Antarctica: new field and remote sensing data. Annals of Glaciology 34: 81-88.
Frezzotti, M., S. Gandolfi, and S. Urbini. 2002. Snow megadunes in Antarctica: sedimentary structure and genesis. Journal of Geophysical Research 107(D18), 4344: doi:10.1029/2001JD000673.
Kawamura, K., and J. P. Severinghaus. 2005. Krypton and Xenon as indicators of convective zone thickness in firn at Megadunes, Antarctica. Eos. Trans. AGU 86(52). Fall Meeting Suppl., Abstract PP33C-1590.
Scambos, T. A., M. A. Fahnestock, C. A. Shuman, and R. Bauer. 2002. Antarctic megadunes: characteristics and formation. Eos. Trans. AGU 85(47). Fall Meeting Suppl., Abstract C31C-04.
Suchdeo, V. P., C. A. Shuman, T. A. Scambos, M. A. Fahnestock, M. R. Albert, and R. Bauer. 2002. Precise elevation profiles across Antarctic megadunes. Eos. Trans. AGU 85(47). Fall Meeting Suppl., Abstract C33C-0357.
Suwa, M., and J. Severinghaus. 2002. Firn density profile at Megadunes, East Antarctica, calls for an improved densification model for low accumulation sites. Eos. Trans. AGU 85(47). Fall Meeting Suppl., Abstract C33C-0359.
6. Document Information
Acronyms and Abbreviations
The following acronyms and abbreviations are used in this document.
| FTP | File Transfer Protocol |
| NSIDC | National Snow and Ice Data Center |
| URL | Uniform Resource Locator |
Document Creation Date
November 2007
Document URL
http://nsidc.org/data/docs/agdc/nsidc0299_albert/index.html
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