Brief communication: Improved measurement of ice layer density in seasonal snowpacks

Tom Watts, Nick Rutter, Peter Toose, Chris Derksen, Melody Sandells, John Woodward
2016 The Cryosphere  
<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> The microstructure and density of ice layers in snowpacks is poorly quantified. Here we present a new field method for measuring the density of ice layers caused by melt or rain-on-snow events. The method was used on 87 ice layer samples taken from natural and artificial ice layers in the Canadian Arctic and mid-latitudes. Mean measured ice layer density was 909<span class="thinspace"></span>±<span class="thinspace"></span>28<span class="thinspace"></span>kg<span
more » ... ass="thinspace"></span>m<sup>&amp;minus;3</sup> with a standard deviation of 23<span class="thinspace"></span>kg<span class="thinspace"></span>m<sup>&amp;minus;3</sup>, significantly higher than values typically used in the literature.</p>
doi:10.5194/tc-10-2069-2016 fatcat:75uk7egj4fagdib4qkv3do5cxy