An exploratory modelling study of perennial firn aquifers in the Antarctic Peninsula for the period 1979–2016

• Published in: The cryosphere 2021-02, Vol.15 (2), p.695-714
• Main Authors: van Wessem, J. Melchior, Steger, Christian R, Wever, Nander, van den Broeke, Michiel R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accumulation; Analysis; Aquifers; Atmospheric models; Atmospheric research; Climate; Climate models; Climatology; Densification; Density; Density profiles; Disintegration; Environmental Sciences; Firn; Firn density; Fluxes; Heat; Humidity; Hydraulic fracturing; Ice; Ice sheets; Ice shelves; Lakes; Land ice; Locations (working); Meltwater; Moisture content; Mountains; Precipitation; Regional climates; Snow; Snowfall; Snowpack; Summer; Temperature; Topography; Water content; Winter
• ISSN: 1994-0424; 1994-0416; 1994-0424; 1994-0416
• DOI: 10.5194/tc-15-695-2021

In this study, we focus on the model detection in the Antarctic Peninsula (AP) of so-called perennial firn aquifers (PFAs) that are widespread in Greenland and Svalbard and are formed when surface meltwater percolates into the firn pack in summer, which is then buried by snowfall and does not refreeze during the following winter. We use two snow models, the Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research Utrecht Firn Densification Model (IMAU-FDM) and SNOWPACK, and force these (partly) with mass and energy fluxes from the Regional Atmospheric Climate MOdel (RACMO2.3p2) to construct a 1979-2016 climatology of AP firn density, temperature, and liquid water content. An evaluation using 75 snow temperature observations at 10 m depth and density profiles from 11 firn cores shows that output of both snow models is sufficiently realistic to warrant further analysis of firn characteristics.