Laboratory experiments and thermal calculations for the development of a next-generation glacier-ice exploration system: Development of an electro-thermal drilling device

A next-generation drilling system, equipped with a thermal drilling device, is proposed for glacier ice. The system is designed to penetrate glacier ice via melting of the ice and continuously analyze melt-water in a contamination-free sonde. This new type of drilling system is expected to provide analysis data in less time and at less cost than existing systems. Because of the limited number of parameters that can be measured, the proposed system will not take the place of conventional drilling systems that are used to obtain ice cores; however, it will provide a useful method for quickly and simply investigating glacier ice.An electro-thermal drilling device is one of the most important elements needed to develop the proposed system. To estimate the thermal supply required to reach a target depth in a reasonable time, laboratory experiments were conducted using ice blocks and a small sonde equipped solely with heaters. Thermal calculations were then performed under a limited range of conditions. The experiments were undertaken to investigate the effects of the shape and material of the drill head and heater temperature on the rate of penetration into the ice. Additional thermal calculations were then performed based on the experimental results.According to the simple thermal calculations, if the thermal loss that occurs while heat is transferred from the heater to ice (in melting the ice) is assumed to be 50%, the total thermal supply required for heaters in the sonde and cable is as follows: (i) 4.8 kW (sonde) plus 0 W (cable) to penetrate to 300 m depth over 10 days into temperate glacier ice for which the temperature is 0 °C at all depths and to maintain a water layer along 300 m of cable; (ii) 10 kW (sonde) plus 19–32 kW (cable) to penetrate to 1000 m depth over 1 month into cold glacier ice for which the temperature is −25 °C at the surface and 0 °C at 1000 m depth and to maintain a water layer along 1000 m of cable; and (iii) 19 kW (sonde) plus 140–235 kW (cable) to penetrate to 3000 m depth over 2 months into an ice sheet for which the temperature is −55 °C at the surface and 0 °C at 3000 m depth and to maintain a water layer along 3000 m of cable. The thermal supply required for the cable is strongly affected by the thickness of the water layer, cable diameter, and the horizontal distance from the ice wall at which the ice temperature was maintained at its initial temperature. A large thermal supply is required to heat 3000 m of cable in an ice sheet (scenario (iii) above), but penetration into glacier ice (scenarios (i) and (ii) above) could be realistic with the use of a currently employed generator.     

南极威尔克斯地SGR钻孔处雪冰转化过程中的密度变化特征

本文着重描述了SGR钻孔处冰盖上的积雪在密实化过程中的特征变化,并对该过程进行了分段的和全面的回归分析.结果表明,冰盖密度随深度增大,但增长幅度随深度减小.作者提出密度变化减小度的概念.计算得出的所研究冰芯钻取点的密度变化减小度为-0.15kg/m~3·m~2,粒雪成冰前的密实速率平均值为4.08kg/m~3·a.本文得到的冰盖密度变化“临界点”与以往报道的有所不同.分析这一现象时,作者强调当积雪还在活动层时冰盖温度的影响,并以此解释密度剖面的异常变化以及离差的回升.特别指出,积雪的密度变化具有气候学意义,它在一定程度上能够反映出积雪形成及变化过程中气候变化的某些信息.本文由密度变化确定的钻孔点雪冰转化深度为50米.     

STUDIES ON THE BHQ ICE CORE FROM THE LAW DOME, ANTARCTICA

The structure of the ice core varies with depth, Its surface layer is firn, followed by an ice layer with random fabric pattern (beginning at 28m depth), then transformed to a small circle girdle pattern (beginning at 147 m depth) through a transition layer, finally to a single-maximum pattern (beginning at 191 m depth). The stratigraphic profile of the ice core is similar to those of other cores on the Law Dome, For BHQ located in the middle of a flow line from the summit to the coast, the initial depth of every specific layer is less than that in the upstream and larger than that in the downstream. The ice was analyzed for trace elememts using instrumental neutron activation technique. No tendency towards a systematic increase or decrease in the element concentrations in the past 4000 years has been found. The mean concentrations of Na and Al over the past 4000 years are higher than those in the Vostok ice core by factors of 9 and 4, respectively.     

南极纳尔逊冰帽的雪层及其成冰作用研究

纳尔逊冰帽雪—粒雪的演化依赖于融水渗浸冻结作用下的暖变质过程。积雪的密实化过程的快慢,取决于温度条件和融水的参与程度,以及自身的物理状况。粒雪的密实化过程表现为均匀且变幅小。纳尔逊冰帽成冰深度在23～25m,成冰历时17～19年。成冰带分为暖渗浸—重结晶带,渗浸—冻结带,消融带。     

南极洲纳尔逊冰帽浅层粒雪／冰的晶体组构特征

对纳尔逊冰帽３个地点浅层粒雪／冰芯的晶体组构测量表明，冰晶ｃ轴在冰帽表面具有优势方位，２０ｍ深度内普遍出现双扇形组构，在２０－３０ｍ深度具有向单极大型变化的趋势。这与所报道的中低纬度山地温冰川上的晶体组构特征有明显不同。估计大量融水渗浸和再冻结作用对冰晶组构有重要影响，但详细机制尚不清楚     

Annual Mass-balance Series of a Temperate Glacier in the Caucasus, Reconstructed from an Ice Core

Identification of annual layers in a firn/ice core provides a possibility to reconstruct the mass-balance sequence for glaciers where no direct observations have been carried out. A number of cores is obtained from the boreholes drilled on the Djantugan firn plateau in the crest zone (3620 m a.s.l.) of the Main Caucasus Ridge. A geophysical radar survey shows ice thickness here being equal to 212 m, close to the maximum value within the plateau (235 m). The deepest layer achieved, c .93 m below the surface, is dated back to 1937. Annual layers are identified by visual and textural petrographic analysis in situ . Geochemical and isotope methods are also applied. Ambiguities in discerning annual boundaries due to epigenetic firn/ice homogenization can be eliminated by means of complex methods. Since the probability of complete melting of an annual layer is estimated as negligible, the reconstructed continuous mass-balance time series, after inserting rheological and inclinometrical amendments, describe the character of glacier evolution. It is corroborated with indirect calculation using data from the nearest weather station and with mass-balance series of the neighbouring Djankuat Glacier, one of 10 reference glaciers in the world. Located south of the meganticlinorium axis, the boring site is characterized by glacier budget improvement during the last decades similar to the northern slope – less rapidly until the 1980s and more rapidly since.     

南极冰盖表面微地貌研究进展与展望

南极冰盖表面微地貌是大气与冰盖相互作用的直接产物,微地貌的形态特征、结构性质及其发展变化对南极冰盖表面的物质平衡、能量平衡以及冰盖记录大气信息的过程具有重要的影响,冰盖表面微地貌的结构性质以及空间分布的确定是计算南极冰盖物质平衡与能量平衡的重要依据,同时在南极冰芯钻探选址以及冰芯解译古气候信息时具有重要的参考价值。根据微地貌的形成方式将南极冰盖表面微地貌分为沉积型、侵蚀型、沉积间断型三类,介绍了南极冰盖表面常见的微地貌形态雪丘、雪纹、雪垄、雪窝以及光洁区的形态特征与结构性质,并对冰盖表面微地貌的分布规律特征进行了总结,文中重点对不同微地貌区域内的物质平衡与能量平衡特征进行了介绍,最后探讨了冰盖表面光洁区对南极冰芯选址的影响,并对未来南极微地貌研究进行了展望。     

ICE THICKNESS,ABLATION, AND OTHER GLACIOLOGICAL MEASUREMENTS ON UPPER FREMONT GLACIER,WYOMING

Glaciological investigations of the Upper Fremont Glacier in the Wind River Range of Wyoming were conducted during 1990–1991. The glaciological data will provide baseline information for monitoring future changes to the glacier and support ongoing research utilizing glacial-ice-core composition to reconstruct paleoenvironmental records. Ice thickness, determined by radio-echo sounding, ranged from 60 to 172 m in the upper half of the glacier. Radio-echo sounding of ice thickness at one point was confirmed by drilling 159.7 m to bedrock. The difference between radio-echo sounding depth and measured drilling depth was about 4 m. Annual ablation (including snow, firn, and ice) measured for the 1990–1991 period averaged about 0.93 m/a. Densification proceeds rapidly on Upper Fremont Glacier. Measured densities in the near-surface parts of the glacier ranged from 4.4 x 10⁵ g/m³ at the surface to larger than 8.5 x 10⁵ g/m³ at depths exceeding 14 m. Surface ice velocity and direction were monitored from July 1990 to August 1991. Ice velocity decreased in a downslope direction. The largest measured velocity was about 3.1 m/a and the smallest was 0.8 m/a. The yearly mean air temperature of the study site during the period from July 11, 1990 to July 10, 1991 was -6.9°. Borehole temperatures from 10-m depths are 0 ± 0.4°. The warmer borehole temperatures relative to the yearly mean air temperature may be caused by the latent heat of freezing, as meltwater from the surface percolates into the glacier and refreezes. [Key words: glaciers, Wyoming, Wind River Range, ice thickness, ablation rates.]     

Temperature distribution of Collins Ice Cap,King George Island,Antarctica

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南极冰盖SO_4~(2-)浓度记录研究进展

本文综述了南极冰盖雪冰中SO2 -4 的来源、SO2 -4 浓度记录的时空分布特征 ,特别对nss SO2 -4 记录的火山活动事件进行了概括与总结 ,反映了近年来南极雪冰中SO2 -4 记录的最新研究进展。南极冰盖雪冰中SO2 -4 来源的综述表明南极地区雪冰中的SO2 -4 主要来源于海盐、海洋生物和火山喷发三种。很多研究表明 ,用南极冰芯中记录的nssSO2 -4 可以恢复火山活动的历史 ,虽然对同一次火山活动 ,在取自南极不同地区的冰芯中 ,其浓度和沉积通量大不一样 ,然而 ,各次火山活动引起的硫酸根离子的沉积通量相对于Tambora火山的沉积通量的百分比在不同冰芯中却经常具有可比性 ,这使得利用冰芯中nssSO2 -4 的沉积通量推算历史时期火山喷发的强度成为可能     

Distribution of Chemical Constituents in Superimposed Ice from Austre Brøggerbreen, Spitsbergen

10 m and 2.3 m ice cores were obtained on Austre Brøggerbreen, Spitsbergen in Svalbard (78°53 ' N, 11°56 ' E, 450 m a.s.l.) in September 1994 and in March 1995, respectively. Stratigraphy, bulk density, pH, electrical conductivity, and major ions were obtained from the core samples.
The chemical effect of meltwater percolation through snow/ice is examined. Good correlation between Cl⁻ and Na⁺ was obtained. The ratio of Cl⁻ to Na⁺ was 1.14 which was nearly the same value as in bulk sea water. However, the variation of Cl⁻/Na⁺ shows that higher ratio occured in the bubble-free ice. Furthermore the Cl⁻ ions remain in higher concentration than SO ₄ ²⁻ or Na⁺ ions.     

Development of a model for ice core dating based on grain elongation

A simple quasi-empirical model is presented to calculate the deformation rate and age scale corresponding to ice core depth, where grain size and shape are determined only by grain growth and grain deformation processes. Given the size and elongation of grains as a function of ice core depth and the accumulation rate at the ice-sheet surface, it is possible to determine the ice core age scale. The model results are in good agreement with measured values of the rate of grain deformation and the age scale for the GIPS2 ice core at depths above 700 m.     

南极洲乔治王岛柯林斯冰帽冰芯层位和密度变化的一般特征

柯林斯冰帽两支冰芯层位记录证实了该冰帽主冰穹顶部（海拔约７００ｍ）属暖渗浸带，小冰穹顶部（海拔约２５０ｍ）属渗浸带。雪、冰的层位分布和密度变化包含了一定的测年信息。主冰穹顶冰芯密度－深度曲线在表层呈现韵律性变化，与层位记录中的融化冻结现象相对应，据此粗略划分年层，断定当地年积累雪层厚度为３－３．５ｍ，折合水当量１６５０－１９２５ｋｇ／ｍ２ａ，年平均积累速率约为２．０ｍ／ａ（冰当量）。主冰穹顶成冰深度为３８－３９ｍ，此深度以上密度自上而下缓慢增加，但以下由于含水层的出现，密度迅速升高，在５－６ｍ区间达到９００ｋｇ／ｍ３。小冰穹冰芯除表层外，密度基本在８００－９００ｋｇ／ｍ３之间，冰芯中雪冰互层，存在污化面，４０ｍ以下发现很厚的火山灰沉积物。小冰穹平均年积累率约为０．７ｍ／ａ（冰当量），成冰深度７－８ｍ，成冰年限为１０年左右     

南极沿海伯尔顿盐湖双刺镰状水蚤种群生态及其与盐湖环境的关系

对南极沿海伯尔顿盐湖浮游桡足类双刺镰状水蚤(Drepanopus bispinosus)种群生态进行了全年连续观察和研究,结果表明,该水蚤为一年一代,其个体发育周期,雄性约为10～12个月,雌性约为12～18个月。种群密度随季节不同而差异较大,其成体高密度期约在6～9月份,幼体高密度期大约在11～12月份,主要为无节幼体,桡足幼体Ⅰ期的高密度期出现在1月份。该水蚤繁殖期大约从6月至翌年1月,期间出现两次生殖高峰,7～8月为前一高峰期,所出现的无节幼体受环境因子主要是湖中食物和含氧量不足的影响而不能继续发育至桡足幼体Ⅰ期以上的阶段,后一高峰大约在10～12月,所出期的无节幼体能继续发育至桡足幼体各期直至成体。伯尔顿湖双刺镰状水蚤种群生态特征及其出现两次生殖高峰的现象,可能与该湖环境的季节变化有关。     

Radiophysical Monitoring of the Lake Baikal Ice Cover

Presented are the results of the winter 2014 radiophysical expedition, within the framework of which the Baikal ice cover was investigated by electromagnetic methods. The primary objectives the expedition were to detect irregularities in the ice cover, such as cracks and thawing steamed holes in the ice, and to determine the ice thickness and structure in the area of the thawing holes by the GPR sounding method. We used in the experiments the OKO-2 ground-penetrating radar (GPR) of the decimeter band and the nanosecond radar with the wavelength of 3 cm. The measurements were made carried out from the Khivus hovercraft and from the UAZ automobile. The ice thickness of Lake Baikal was determined by non-contact electromagnetic measurement methods. Radargrams of reflected signals from the ice cover are presented. Radar patterns of reflected signals from artificial irregularities of the ice cover were obtained by the short-pulse radar method. The concept of radiophysical monitoring is suggested, which provides a means of determining the ice cover parameters of a water body with high spatial resolution. We present an integral approach to investigating the conditions of the ice cover in order to integrate different physicochemical methods for diagnosing the objects studied. A further development of the concept of integrated ice cover research, and the creation of the monitoring network involves solving a number of scientific and engineering tasks that include developing physical models and information and measurement systems as well as the rationale for an integrated monitoring network.     

Source of major ions from an ice core of the No. 12 Glacier in Laohugou Valley, Qilian Mountain

In June 2006,a 20.12 m shallow ice core was recovered from an elevation of 5,040 m in the northern branch firn basin of No.12 Glacier,Great Snow Mountain,in the western part of Qilian Mountain,China.Isotopes(δ 18 O),major soluble ions,and radionuclide(β-activity) measurements from the ice core revealed a 46-year record(1960-2006).In this paper,the method of sea-salt ion tracer,correlation analysis and trend analysis were used in this research to confirm the source of the chemical composition.The correlation analysis and HYSPLIT backward trajectory analysis suggests that atmospheric soluble dust species dominate the chemical signature.     

Effect of Uncertainties in Measured Variables on the Calculated Mass Balance of storglaciären

Detailed mass balance measurements have been carried out on Storglaciären since 1945, adhering to a fixed system of measurements since the 1960s. Using a geographical information system approach, the effect of parameters such as density conversion model, systematic snow probing error and ablation gradient calculation on the mass balance of the glacier can be investigated. It is evident that the measure of total mass balance of Storglaciären is not sensitive to variations in these parameters. This means that reasonable estimates of the mass balance of a glacier can be made with very little information, given that measurements are distributed over the glacier surface. However, the uncertainty that may result from varying the parameters is c . 0.1 m water equivalent. Hence, reporting mass balance to centimetre or even millimetre resolution is questionable. When considering mass balance measurements as input for flow models, for example, i.e. requiring a distributed balance, the detail necessary in the measurements becomes significantly greater. At this level careful attention must be made to all parameters entering the mass balance calculation. From this it seems evident that any measurements at intermediate complexity do not increase the accuracy of the mass balance in relation to the extra work required and that the choice of method determines the scientific problems to which the data is applicable.     

Comparison of theoretical and observed temperature profiles in Devon Island ice cap, Canada

Summary. A non-steady-state theoretical model is used to predict the present variation of temperature with depth in two boreholes in the Devon Island ice cap, Arctic Canada. The boreholes are 300 m apart and one of them reaches bedrock. The heat transfer equation is solved numerically with the record of past temperatures obtained from measurements of the variations of oxygen—isotope ratio with depth in the cores as surface boundary condition. The effects of ice advection, refreezing of meltwater percolating from the surface (the amount of which is recorded in the cores), heating due to firn compaction and ice deformation, and heat flow in the bedrock below the ice sheet are all included in the model. The free parameters are geothermal heat flux, present surface temperature and heat loss at the surface which depends on the depth of meltwater penetration and other factors. Agreement between observed and predicted temperature—depth profiles is very close. Latent heat released by percolating meltwater is the predominating factor in determining the temperature distribution in the upper half of each borehole. The temperature distribution is insensitive to the value of the factor used to convert oxygen—isotope ratio to temperature.     

青藏高原各拉丹冬冰芯记录的季节气温变化

2005 年10-11 月中美联合考察队在各拉丹冬峰北部果曲冰川平坦的粒雪盆 (33^o34'37.8"N, 91^o10'35.3"E, 5720 m a.s.l.) 钻取了一支冰芯, 通过对该冰芯进行多参数定年, 恢复了青藏高原中部各拉丹冬地区近70 年来降水中δ¹⁸O 的变化历史。根据冰芯中季风期和非季风期δ¹⁸O 值与临近气象台站气温的正相关性, 重建了该地区70 年来的春季和夏季的气温变化。结果表明, 各拉丹冬冰芯中δ¹⁸O 记录的春季和夏季升温趋势非常明显; 根据回归分析, 冰芯中非季风期的δ¹⁸O 每增大(或减小) 1‰相当于春季气温升高(或降低) 1.3 ^oC; 季风 期的δ¹⁸O 每增大(或减小) 1‰相当于夏季气温升高(或降低) 0.4 ^oC; 各拉丹冬冰芯中δ¹⁸O 记录恢复的春季和夏季气温与北半球春季和夏季的气温变化具有一致的趋势, 但各拉丹冬地区的增温幅度比北半球要大, 同时春季的增温幅度也高于夏季。     

A preliminary study on oxygen isotope of ice cores of Collins Ice Cap,King George Island,Antarctica

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