The Thermal Conductivity of Polar Firn

Authors

Simon OsterFollow

Degree Program

A.B.

Year of Graduation

2021

Faculty Advisor

Mary R. Albert

Document Type

Thesis (Senior Honors)

Publication Date

Spring 6-1-2021

Abstract

A custom device is designed, validated, and used to make the first reported direct measurements of the effective thermal conductivity of polar firn. The firn cores spanned depths from 8 to 47 m from an undisturbed site near the South Pole in Antarctica. The thermal conductivity varies with depth, with values ranging from 0.617 to 1.018 W/mK, and the associated thermal diffusivities range from 20.95 to 25.68 m²/a. Density and porosity contribute to the variation in thermal conductivity but cannot be used to completely prescribe the conductivity. Initial analyses indicate that firn microstructure relates to conductivity through Euler-Poincaré numbers.

Dartmouth Digital Commons Citation

Oster, Simon, "The Thermal Conductivity of Polar Firn" (2021). ENGS 88 Honors Thesis (AB Students). 32.
https://digitalcommons.dartmouth.edu/engs88/32