The Surface Mass-Balance of Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica: Data Interpretation and Application
Issue Date:
1975-02Metadata
Show full item recordPublisher:
Research Foundation and the Institute of Polar Studies, The Ohio State University.Citation:
Whillans, Ian M. 1975. The Surface Mass-Balance of Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica: Data Interpretation and Application. Institute of Polar Studies Report No. 51, Research Foundation and the Institute of Polar Studies, The Ohio State University, 86 pages.Series/Report no.:
Report (Ohio State University. Institute of Polar Studies) ; no. 51Research Foundation, The Ohio State University
RF3229-A1
Abstract:
A method is described to determine accurate and precise mass balance from bamboo poles at the surface of the ice sheet upstream from Byrd Station, Antarctica. The method includes corrections for snow and firn settling and for the migration of anchoring position along the pole.
Methods for determining snow and firn densities from pits using sawed blocks (after Schytt 1958) are described. Although our sawed block data contain a systematic error, this technique provides much more precise densities than the snow sampler technique. We recommend an improved sawed block technique for future work.
The surface mass-balance is largest near the ice crest and shows variations that are related to surface slope. The pattern is probably related to orographic precipitation from air masses originating in the Amundsen Sea and to katabatic winds. The importance of spatial surface mass-balance to deep core interpretation is discussed.
Description:
The University Archives has determined that this item is of continuing value to OSU's history.
Sponsors:
National Science Foundation Grant GV-26137X3
Office of Polar Programs Grant OPP 74-02716-A01
Office of Polar Programs Grant OPP 74-02716-A01
Type:
Technical ReportISSN:
0078-415XCollections
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