An analysis of compressive strain in adjacent temperature-gradient and equi-temperature layers in a natural snow cover
- 1 January 1980
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Journal of Glaciology
- Vol. 26 (94) , 283-289
- https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000010820
Abstract
Compressive strain-rates in discrete layers of a sub-alpine snow cover are analyzed. Individual layers are identified according to density and the dominant type of metamorphism which contributed to their formation. Data were collected during four winter seasons at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR) snow-study site (3 400 m), Red Mountain Pass, south-western Colorado, U.S.A. At average densities of less than 250 kg m₋3the influence of metamorphism on strain-rate is not apparent. However, at densities greater than 250 kg m₋3, two separate relationships emerge for strain as a function of crystal type and density. While two adjacent layers may exhibit comparable densities, a layer of sintered, fine grained (ET) snow indicates a strain-rate approximately one order of magnitude greater than an adjacent layer of cohesionless, coarse-grained (TG) snow.Keywords
This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:
- Some Measurements of Settlement in a Rocky Mountains Snow CoverJournal of Glaciology, 1978
- The Classification of Snow MetamorphismJournal of Glaciology, 1970