FACTORS CONTROLLING THE ELECTRICAL-CONDUCTIVITY OF ICE FROM THE POLAR-REGIONS - A SUMMARY

Data on the relationship between the electrical conductivity and the c hemistry of ice cores from the polar regions are summarized, The elect rical conductivity measurement is used as a proxy for de conductivity, while dielectric profiling gives high-frequency conductivity. The de conductivity seems to be controlled entirely by the acidity of the ice , with a secondary effect of the accompanying anion. There is no posit ive response when huge excesses of sea salt, ammonium, or calcium are present, except in ice where brine is present. The high-frequency cond uctivity is controlled by acidity, ammonium, and chloride. This findin g can be accommodated within Jaccard theory, but the relative response at high frequency to the three ions seems puzzling. The possibility t hat de conduction may be through grain boundaries can also not be disc ounted.