Basal Ice in High Arctic Snowpacks

In late May or June, meltwater percolating through cold arctic snowpacks often refreezes as ice layers. In the presence of a cold substrate, such layers form at the base of the snowpack. This basal ice continues to grow so long as meltwater supply is sustained and the substrate remains below 0°C. Upon exposure, the ice is destroyed by sublimation and surface melting or by thermal and mechanical erosion by water which runs on, in or under the …