Sea salt deposited snow on sea ice and snow drift

Abstract

Fallen snow, snow drift and deposited snow on sea ice were collected in 1986 near Syowa Station, East Antarctica. Electroconductivity measurments of meltwater of the collected samples were performed at Syowa Station. The electroconductivities of the samples were mostly of order (10)^2μS/cm as follows; fallen snow (2.5-18μS/cm), snow drift under blizzard condition and deposited snow on sea ice (20-(10)^3μS/cm), part of them more than (10)^4μS/cm. From these measurments, it is pointed out that the electrocon-ductivity of deposited snow on sea ice depends on the presence of bare sea ice area. Under blizzard condition, it is suggested that snow drift originates from fallen snow and erosion of deposited snow on sea ice containing much sea salt, such snow drift is transported by strong wind. In this respect, if the sea salt can be evaporated, the appearance of sea salt particles is deduced.