A mechanism for ice layer formation in glacial firn

Mohammad Afzal Shadab, Surendra Adhikari, Anja Rutishauser, Cyril Grima, Marc Andre Hesse

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

There is ample evidence for ice layers and lenses within glacial firn. The standard model for ice layer formation localizes the refreezing by perching of meltwater on pre-existing discontinuities. Here we argue that even extreme melting events provide insufficient flux for this mechanism. Using a thermomechanical model we demonstrate a different mechanism of ice layer formation. After a melting event when the drying front catches up with the wetting front and arrests melt percolation, conductive heat loss freezes the remaining melt in place to form an ice layer. This model reproduces the depth of a new ice layer at the Dye-2 site in Greenland. It provides a deeper insight into the interpretation of firn stratigraphy and past climate variability. It also improves the simulation of firn densification processes, a key source of uncertainty in assessing and attributing ice sheet mass balance based on satellite altimetry and gravimetry data.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere2024GL109893
Number of pages12
JournalGeophysical Research Letters
Volume51
Issue number15
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 16 Aug 2024

Keywords

  • climate variability
  • firn hydrology
  • firn stratigraphy
  • formation mechanism and depth
  • ice layer

Programme Area

  • Programme Area 5: Nature and Climate

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