Sublimation of ice through sediment in Beacon Valley, Antarctica

Hindmarsh, R.C.A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1633-2416; van der Wateren, F.M.; Verbers, Anja L.L.M.. 1998 Sublimation of ice through sediment in Beacon Valley, Antarctica. Geografiska Annaler, Series A: Physical Geography, 80 (3-4). 209-219. 10.1111/j.0435-3676.1998.00038.x

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.0435-3676.1998.00038.x

Abstract/Summary

The time-dependent physics of ice sublimation through thin layers of till is considered, to determine whether sublimation could be sufficiently slow to permit the preservation of ice for 8 Ma in the Dry Valleys, Antarctica. This could only happen if the ice had been very thick, but other evidence (crystal size, dating of other ice-cored moraines) is not consistent with this possibility. Steady-state models suggest that sublimation is rate-controlled by vapor transport. A time-dependent model coupling vapor concentration, air pressure, temperature and ice concentration is formulated, and the resulting equations solved non-linearly. No transient coupling between vapor concentration, air temperature and pressure that substantially slows down sublimation was found in the numerical experiments. This means either that vapor transport is being slowed down by some unconsidered physical process or that the ice is much younger than 8 Ma.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1111/j.0435-3676.1998.00038.x
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Pre 2000 programme
ISSN:	0435-3676
Date made live:	27 Nov 2013 13:27 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/504057

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1111/j.0435-3676.1998.00038.x

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Pre 2000 programme

ISSN:

0435-3676

Date made live:

27 Nov 2013 13:27 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/504057