Abstract:

Based on detailed measurements of density and a numerous data on temperature in shallow boreholes (about 20m deep), the thermal properties and temperature distribution of snow / firn layer on the Law Dome ice cap, Antarctica, are discussed. According to a review of works on thermal properties of snow by Yen (1981), a relationship between thermal conductivity (K) and density (ρ) is proposed to be expressed by a formula, K=0.0784+2.697/ρ2. Then an eqation of heat transfer in a deformed ununiform medium is applied and solved analytically by two approaches. Comparison of calculated and measured temperatures indicates that the difference is mainly dependent on the determination of boundary donditions.

Key words: Law Dome Ice Cap, snow-firn layer, thermal properties, temperature distribution