Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Permeability of Lake Ice in the Taylor Valley, Antarctica: From Permeameter Design to Permeability Upscaling

Abstract Details

2008, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Geological Sciences.

Research on lake ice permeability in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica required the design and construction of a novel multi-support, field based, gas permeameter. The permeameters simple design allows rapid, precise, and non-destructive permeability measurements in a harsh polar environment. The research goals using the multi-support gas permeameter (MSGP) are to (1) determine lake ice physical hydrology through the investigation of primary permeability, (2) how permeability affects the mechanics and physics of fluid and gas transport through lake ice, (3) describe any variable nature of lake ice permeability, (4) scale up permeability to different sections of the lakes, and (5) document the change in permeability during the austral spring. The multi-support gas permeameter is of original design, however, a tip seal system utilizing the developments of a laboratory-based permeameter by Tidwell and Wilson (1997) was incorporated. The tip seal design has five interchangeable components, with inner seal radii of 0.15cm, 0.31cm, 0.63cm, 1.27cm, and 2.54cm, and outer radii twice the inner, which allows multiple gas diffusion depths, thus permitting permeability measurements over a wide variety of ice thickness and formation. The system delivers a positive pressure of 0 to 100kPa of compressed laboratory grade nitrogen (N2) gas into the tip seal interface that is in direct contact with the ice being tested. The volumetric flow rate, absolute injection pressure, barometric pressure, and temperature of the N2 gas penetrating the ice are recorded manually from a digital readout. The permeability is then calculated using a modified version of Darcys Law. Spot primary permeability measurements were used to scale permeability readings up to the entire lakes surface areas. The two lakes are influenced by different environmental conditions including source of wind (continental or marine influence), amount of sunlight (ablation rate), and ice conditions (annual and perennial ice lasting approximately 7 to 10 years).

Measurements were made on a small scale (nine sample points per 81cm2 area) and were repeated weekly over a four-week period from early to late austral spring. By understanding the heterogeneity in smallest of scales at the different sampling sites (and through any temporal changes), the lakes’ permeability heterogeneity could be factored out and scaled up to reflect the primary permeability of the entire lake as a single, homogenous system. Data analysis revealed little difference in surficial primary permeability over a large spatial area, regardless of ice type sampled or the environmental conditions encountered. Although slight trends of permeability variability were noticed, the ice is intrinsically semi-permeable on the primary level. Average primary permeability of void spaces between ice crystals was at approximately 10-13 to 10-14 m2 for all in situ measurements. Observation revealed that although there was little difference in primary permeability of lake ice in general, it is very permeable due to secondary structures (fractures, bubbles, and lenses) contained within the ice column. This study dealt exclusively with the primary permeability and could not quantitatively constrain the secondary, and therefore, the overall permeability of the lakes.

Anne Carey, PhD (Advisor)
W. Berry Lyons, PhD (Other)
Garry McKenzie, PhD (Other)
117 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Carroll, K. P. (2008). Permeability of Lake Ice in the Taylor Valley, Antarctica: From Permeameter Design to Permeability Upscaling [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1206545662

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Carroll, Kelly. Permeability of Lake Ice in the Taylor Valley, Antarctica: From Permeameter Design to Permeability Upscaling. 2008. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1206545662.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Carroll, Kelly. "Permeability of Lake Ice in the Taylor Valley, Antarctica: From Permeameter Design to Permeability Upscaling." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1206545662

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)