On the Porosity of the Unconsolidated Part of Ice Ridge Keel

V. V. Kharitonov

The paper discusses the distribution of porosity of the unconsolidated part of the keel of ten first-year ice ridges investigated in the central Arctic basin and the Shokalsky Strait (Severnaya Zemlya) in 2012–2019. These studies were performed using thermal drilling with the computer (logger) recording of penetration rate. Boreholes were drilled along the cross-section of the ridge crest, mainly at 0.25-m intervals. The porosity values for the unconsolidated part of the keel are presented on the diagram as a point cloud. The horizontal position of the points is determined by the relative distance between the borehole and the point where the keel has the maximum draft. As moving away from this point, the average porosity of the unconsolidated part of the keel tends to increase. This feature is a consequence of the Archimedes force effect and agrees with the model of porosity changes from the theory of granular media.