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ESS 595, Autumn 2008
READINGS on Polar Firn

WEEK 1
Herron, M.M. and C.C.Langway Jr. 1980. The densification of firn: an empirical model. Journal of Glaciology 25(93), 373-385.

This paper is a classic. It introduced to the broad glaciological community the key ideas of 3 regimes of compaction, and inferred controlling parameters from density-depth profiles in a wide range of polar climates.

Discussion Leaders: Jessica and Ed

Week 1 Summary


WEEK 2

Li Jun and Jay Zwally at NASA have investigated the transient behavior of firn compaction, with a view to correctly interpreting satellite altimetry surveys of ice-sheet elevation.

Li Jun and H.J. Zwally. 2002. Modeled seasonal variations of firn density induced by steady-state surface air-temperature cycle. Annals of Glaciology 34, 299-302.

Zwally, H. J. and Li Jun. 2002. Seasonal and interannual variations of firn densification and ice-sheet surface elevation at the Summit of
Greenland. J. Glaciol. 48(161), 199-207.

Discussion Leaders: Brooke and T.J.


Week 2 Summary


WEEK 3
Arthern, R. J. and Wingham, D. J. 1998. The natural fluctuations of firn densification and their effect on the geodetic determination of ice sheet mass balance. Clim. Change 40, 605–624.

...and erratum

Discussion Leaders: Brooke and Regina


Week 4
Reeh, N. 2008. A nonsteady-state firn-densification model for the percolation zone of a glacier.  JGR(113).

Discussion Leaders: Michelle and Jessica


Week 5

Alley, R.B. 1987.  Firn densification by grain boundary sliding: a first model. Journal De Physique(48).

Read for results and discussion, methods section is optional:

Freitag, J., F. Wilhelm, S. Kipfstuhl. 2004. Microstructure-dependent densification of polar firn derived from X-ray microtomography. J. Glaciol. 50(169)243-250.

Discussion Leaders: Kristin and T.J.

Week 5 Summary


Week 6
Arnaud, L., et al. 2000. Physical modeling of the densification of snow/firn and ice in the upper part of polar ice sheets.  Physics of Ice Core Records. 285-305

Discussion Leaders: Kristin and Brooke


Week 7
Martinerie, P., V.Y. Lipenkov, D. Raynaud, J. Chappellaz, N.I. Barkov, and C. Lorius.  1994. JGR 99.

Optional:
Martinerie, P., D. Raynaud, D.M. Etheridge, J.M Barnola, D. Mazaudier. 1992. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 112.

Discussion Leaders: Eric and Peter


Week 8
Severinghaus, et al. 1998. Timing of abrupt climate change at the end of the Younger Dryas interval from thermally fractionated gases in polar ice.  Nature (391).

Optional:

Blunier, et al. 2005.Isotopic view on nitrate loss in Antarctic surface snow.   GRL (32).

Discussion Leaders: Michelle, Peter


Week 9
Wilkinson, D.S. 1988. A pressure-sintering model for the densification of polar firn and glacier ice. J. Glac 34(116).

Rick, U.K. and M.R. Albert. 2004. Microstructure and permeability in the near-surface firn near a potential US deep-drilling site in West Antarctica. Annals of Glaciology (39)62-66.

Discussion Leaders: Eric and Regina


Class Followup:
Wilkinson (1988) referred extensively to his earlier paper for more details and equations about deformation mechanisms. So we have posted that paper too:

Wilkinson, D.S., and M.F. Ashby. 1975. Pressure sintering by power law creep. Acta Metallurgica 23, 1277-1285.


Week 10

Spencer, M.K., et al. 2006 Developing a bubble number-density paleoclimate indicator for glacier ice.  J. Glac. 52(178) 358-364.

Optional:

Spencer, M.K., et al. 2001. Preliminatry firn-densification model with 38-site dataset. J. Glac. 47(159) 671-676.

Discussion Leaders: Jessica and T.J.

Herron and Langway 1980
Li Jun and Zwally 2002.
Zwally and Li Jun 2002
Arthern and Wingham with Erratum

Reeh 2008
Freitag 2004
Alley 1987
Arnaud 2000
Martinerie 1994

Martinerie 1992
Severinghaus 1998
Blunier 2005
Wilkinson 1988
Wilkinson and Ashby 1975

Rick and Albert 2004
Spencer 2001
Spencer 2006