Some Physical and Mechanical Properties of Polar Snow

Abstract

Specimens of polar snow from the South Pole, Antarctica, were tested to investigate air permeabilityK(cm.sec.⁻¹), ultimate compressive strengthσ_c(g.cm.⁻²) and dynamic Young’s modulusE(g.cm.⁻²) as a function of density. Anisotropy in a single layer of snow (snow between two summer crusts) was found in all three properties. Comparison with data for snow from Site 2, Greenland showed an empirical relation for both areas: Air permeabilities are different at the two sites because of time and meteorological effects.