Ice Crystal Fabric Evolution Under Superplastic Creep Conditions

Cryogenic electron backscatter diffraction measurements capture the evolution of ice crystal orientation fabric across a transition from superplastic to Glen-type creep. The dataset contains microstructural properties from deformed polycrystalline ice samples fabricated at WHOI. Data collection is planned through 2026 by AMD_USAPDC.

Use Cases

• Correlate grain size (5 µm to 1000 µm) with the proportion of strain accommodated by grain boundary sliding.
• Analyze crystal orientation fabric strength from cryo-EBSD data to test if superplastic creep produces a fabric.
• Model ice flow rate using temperature (-30°C to -10°C) and stress regimes alongside dislocation density measurements.
• Identify microstructural signatures like grain shape and defect densities to link lab experiments to geophysical radar observations.

Strengths

• Experimental conditions cover a wide grain size range from 5 µm to 1000 µm.
• Microstructural analysis uses high-angular-resolution electron backscatter diffraction for detailed measurements.
• Project aims to resolve a long-standing debate on superplastic creep in ice.

Limitations

• Sample size is limited to laboratory-fabricated ice samples, not natural ice cores.
• Data collection is future-oriented, with results planned for 2026, providing no current records.
• Geographic coverage is confined to laboratory conditions, not direct polar ice mass observations.

Provenance

Source

AMD_USAPDC

Collection Method

Ice samples fabricated and deformed in a 1-atm cryogenic axial-torsion apparatus at WHOI, then imaged using cryogenic and high-resolution EBSD.

Freshness

Last updated date indicates planned data collection through 2026-07-31.