In:
Journal of Glaciology, International Glaciological Society, Vol. 56, No. 199 ( 2010), p. 891-902
Abstract:
Analyses of shallow cores obtained at the European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica (EPICA) drilling site Kohnen station (75°00′ S, 00°04′ E; 2892 m a.s.l.) on the plateau of Dronning Maud Land reveal the presence of conserved snow dunes in the firn. In situ observations during three dune formation events in the 2005/06 austral summer at Kohnen station show that these periods were characterized by a phase of 2 or 3 days with snowdrift prior to dune formation which only occurred during high wind speeds of 〉 10 m s -1 at 2 m height caused by the influence of a low-pressure system. The dune surface coverage after a formation event varied between 5% and 15%, with a typical dune size of (4 ± 2) m × (8 ± 3) m, a maximum height of 0.2 ± 0.1 m and a periodicity length of about 30 m. The mean density within a snow dune varied between 380 and 500 kg m -3 , whereas the mean density at the surrounding surface was 330 ± 5 kgm -3 . The firn cores covering a time-span of 22 ± 2 years reveal that approximately three to eight events per year occurred, during which snow dunes had been formed and were preserved in the firn.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0022-1430
,
1727-5652
DOI:
10.3189/002214310794457272
Language:
English
Publisher:
International Glaciological Society
Publication Date:
2010
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2140541-4
SSG:
14
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