Sea salt dependent electrical conduction in polar ice

Journal Article · Thu Dec 10 00:00:00 EST 1992 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/92JB01872· OSTI ID:6763725

Moore, J; Paren, J ^[1]; Oerter, H ^[2]

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1. Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge (United Kingdom)
2. Alfred Wegener Inst. for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven (Germany)

A 45 m length of ice core from Dolleman Island, Antarctic Peninsula has been dielectrically analyzed at 5 cm resolution using the dielectric profiling (DEP) technique. The core has also been chemically analyzed for major ionic impurities. A statistical analysis of the measurements shows that the LF (low frequency) conductivity is determined both by neutral salt and acid concentrations. The statistical relationships have been compared with results from laboratory experiments on ice doped with HF (hydrogen fluoride). Salts (probably dispersed throughout the ice fabric) determine the dielectric conductivity. The salt conduction mechanism is probably due to Bjerrum L defects alone, created by the incorporation of chloride ions in the lattice. Samples of ice from beneath the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf were also measured and display a similar conduction mechanism below a solubility limit of about 400 [mu]M of chloride. The temperature dependence of the neutral salt, acid and pure ice contributions to the LF conductivity of natural ice between [approximately] 70[degrees]C and 0[degrees]C is discussed. These results allow a comprehensive comparison of dielectric and chemical data from natural ice.

• OSTI ID: 6763725
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Vol. 97:B13; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ICE
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
IMPURITIES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
CHLORIDES
IONS
RESOLUTION
SALTS
SOLUBILITY
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0065-0273 K
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
TEMPERATURE RANGE
540220* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)