Investigation of Water Storage and Flow Processes in Snow, Firn and Ice

The paper analyses various processes of water transport in a glaciated system. It focuses on measuring cycles and processes of water transport in different glacier sub-systems in the ablation season of 2006. The glacier itself is seen as the element of retardation of run-off and storage. The spotlight is on measuring retention times and quantities as well as understanding interactions of subsystems. Infiltration processes and the progress of the melt front were investigated by the applicaton of coloured dyes on snow and firn. The study emphasized on fluorescent dye tracer measurements to investigate retention times of water for different parts of the glaciated basin. Dye measurements under snow on firn showed significantly reduced flow velocities in comparision to later en- and subglacial flow measurements. To measure the englacial flow of water, again fluorescent dyes were used. From measured data, flow rates under snow, on firn and ice as well as flow velocities in the main englacial and subglacial channels were derived. Meteorologic and hydrographical data from the Sonnblick Observatory the nearby gauge station were used to support analyses and results.