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https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2337
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2337
27 Sep 2024
 | 27 Sep 2024

Observations of creep of polar firn at different temperatures

Yuan Li, Kaitlin Keegan, and Ian Baker

Abstract. To improve our understanding of firn compaction and deformation processes, constant-load compressive creep tests were performed on specimens from a Summit, Greenland (72°35’ N, 38°25’ W) firn core that was extracted in June, 2017. Cylindrical specimens were tested at temperatures of −5 °C, −18 °C and −30 °C from depths of 20 m, 40 m and 60 m at stresses of 0.21 MPa, 0.32 MPa and 0.43 MPa, respectively. The microstructures were characterized before and after creep using both X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and thin sections viewed between optical crossed polarizers. Examining the resulting strain vs. time and strain vs. strain rate curves from the creep tests revealed the following notable features. First, the time exponent k was found to be 0.34–0.69 during transient creep, which is greater than the 0.33 usually observed in fully-dense ice. Second, the strain rate minimum (SRMin) in secondary creep occurred at a greater strain from specimens with lower density and at higher temperature. Third, tertiary creep occurred more easily for the lower-density specimens at greater effective stresses and higher temperatures, where strain softening is primarily due to recrystallization. Fourth, the SRMin is a function of the temperature for a given firn density. Lastly, we developed empirical equations for inferring the SRMin, as it is difficult to measure during creep at low temperatures. The creep behaviors of polar firn, being essentially different from full-density ice, imply that firn densification is an indispensable process within the snow-to-ice transition, particularly firn deformation at different temperatures connected to a changing climate.

Competing interests: At least one of the (co-)authors is a member of the editorial board of The Cryosphere. The peer-review process was guided by an independent editor, and the authors also have no other competing interests to declare.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this paper. While Copernicus Publications makes every effort to include appropriate place names, the final responsibility lies with the authors. Views expressed in the text are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.
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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

06 Feb 2026
Observations of creep of polar firn at different temperatures
Yuan Li, Kaitlin Keegan, and Ian Baker
The Cryosphere, 20, 981–1000, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-981-2026,https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-981-2026, 2026
Short summary
Yuan Li, Kaitlin Keegan, and Ian Baker

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2337', Louis Védrine, 21 Oct 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2337', Anonymous Referee #2, 31 Oct 2024
  • AC3: 'Revision Complement', Yuan Li, 04 Jun 2025

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2337', Louis Védrine, 21 Oct 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2337', Anonymous Referee #2, 31 Oct 2024
  • AC3: 'Revision Complement', Yuan Li, 04 Jun 2025

Peer review completion

AR – Author's response | RR – Referee report | ED – Editor decision | EF – Editorial file upload
ED: Publish subject to revisions (further review by editor and referees) (23 Mar 2025) by Nanna Bjørnholt Karlsson
AR by Yuan Li on behalf of the Authors (24 Apr 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (16 May 2025) by Nanna Bjørnholt Karlsson
RR by Louis Védrine (25 Jun 2025)
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (30 Jul 2025)
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (further review by editor and referees) (12 Aug 2025) by Nanna Bjørnholt Karlsson
AR by Yuan Li on behalf of the Authors (05 Sep 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish subject to revisions (further review by editor and referees) (27 Sep 2025) by Nanna Bjørnholt Karlsson
AR by Yuan Li on behalf of the Authors (26 Oct 2025)  Author's response   Manuscript 
EF by Mario Ebel (28 Oct 2025)  Author's tracked changes 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (11 Nov 2025) by Nanna Bjørnholt Karlsson
RR by Louis Védrine (14 Nov 2025)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (15 Nov 2025) by Nanna Bjørnholt Karlsson
AR by Yuan Li on behalf of the Authors (25 Nov 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (28 Nov 2025) by Nanna Bjørnholt Karlsson
AR by Yuan Li on behalf of the Authors (07 Dec 2025)

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

06 Feb 2026
Observations of creep of polar firn at different temperatures
Yuan Li, Kaitlin Keegan, and Ian Baker
The Cryosphere, 20, 981–1000, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-981-2026,https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-981-2026, 2026
Short summary
Yuan Li, Kaitlin Keegan, and Ian Baker
Yuan Li, Kaitlin Keegan, and Ian Baker

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The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
The compaction of firn is helpful to have new insight into the physical mechanisms of the snow-ice transition. Here, the relevant tests on the effect of temperature on firn deformation from the firn samples at different depths are indicative of different microstructural characteristics in densities and other parameters. As a result, firn deformation shows different mechanical behaviors from full-density ice, due to lower densities, higher temperatures, and greater effective stresses.
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