Brief communication: Evaluation of multiple density-dependent empirical snow conductivity relationships in East Antarctica

Abstract

Nine density-dependent empirical thermal conductivity relationships for firn were compared against data from three automatic weather stations at climatically different sites in East Antarctica (Dome A, Eagle, and LGB69). The empirical relationships were validated using a vertical, 1D thermal diffusion model and a phase-change-based firn diffusivity estimation method. The best relationships for the abovementioned sites were identified by comparing the modeled and observed firn temperature at a depth of 1 and 3 m, and from the mean heat conductivities over two depth intervals (1–3 and 3–10 m). Among the nine relationships, that proposed by Calonne et al. (2011) appeared to show the best performance. The density- and temperature-dependent relationship given in Calonne et al. (2019) does not show clear superiority over other density-dependent relationships. This study provides a useful reference for firn thermal conductivity parameterizations in land modeling or snow–air interaction studies on the Antarctica ice sheet.