Description:
For the investigation of time-dependent vertical deformation of upper layers of ice shelves loaded by accumulated snow and/or structures a large-scale field test was started in 1980-81 at Georg von Neumayer station (70°37´S, 8°22´W), Antarctica. Specially developed base plugs were fixed to the bottoms of 5.0 and 10.0 m deep bore holes by melting and refreezing the surrounding firn. The deformations of the snow firn layers will be measured between these base plugs and metal plates placed on the snow surface during installation. The bore holes are kept open by tubes of different diameters in order to allow for load-induced vertical deformations of snow and firn. Some measurements are directly affected by the presence of the station. The design of the measuring device, the procedure of installation, and the measurement of deformation are described. The results of calculations of deformation and measurements of first settlement are presented.