Abstract:

Temperature measurements in boreholes show that ice is of temperate state in accumulation area and of cold state in ablation area in Collins Ice Cap. Ice temperature of active layer is significantly influenced by seasonal variations of air temperature.The warming of ice by the melt water infiltration is remarkable. Snow cover also noticeably affects thermal regimes of the Collins Ice Cap. The measurements also reveal that temperature below the active layer is approximate to the melting point in the majority of the glacier except in the vicinity of the Little Dome,where ice temperature varies sharply within a surface distance of more than 10 metres. Significant water oozing from ice cores was observed at a depth of 30 m during the drilling near the Little Dome, which is probably caused by the combined effects such as internal runoffs,differential movement and high salinity of the glacier.

Key words: Collins Ice Cap, temperature, warm infiltration