Further Results on Studies of Temperature-Gradient Metamorphism

Abstract

A correlation between temperature gradient in snow–pack and material strength is found to exist in laboratory studies on temperature gradient metamorphism of snow. These results are in agreement with earlier field investigations and eliminate diurnal solar and temperature variations as reasons for the existence of the maximum temperature gradient in the zone of minimum strength. Also the laboratory studies have indicated that locally dense layers such as ice crusts tend to enhance weakness directly below the crust due to local alteration of the thermal regimen. Further studies are continuing to describe the thermodynamic process of temperature gradient metamorphism more exactly.