C. Miege Julie MIller Bruce Wallin Ted A. Scambos Olivia L. Miller D Kip Solomon Richard Forster Lora Koenig Lynn Montgomery 2020 <p><span>We present measurements of the density, hydraulic conductivity, and specific discharge of a widespread firn aquifer in Antarctica, within the Wilkins Ice Shelf. At the field site, the aquifer is 16.2&nbsp;m thick, starting at 13.4&nbsp;m from the snow surface and transitioning from water‐saturated firn to ice at 29.6&nbsp;m. Hydraulic conductivity derived from slug tests show a geometric mean value of 1.4&nbsp;±&nbsp;1.2&nbsp;×&nbsp;10</span>⁻⁴<span>&nbsp;m&nbsp;s</span>⁻¹<span>, equivalent to permeability of 2.6&nbsp;±&nbsp;2.2&nbsp;×&nbsp;10</span>⁻¹¹<span>&nbsp;m</span>²<span>. A borehole dilution test indicates an average specific discharge value of 1.9&nbsp;±&nbsp;2.8&nbsp;×&nbsp;10</span>⁻⁶<span>&nbsp;m&nbsp;s</span>⁻¹<span>. Ground‐penetrating radar profiles and a groundwater flow model show the aquifer is draining laterally into a large nearby rift. Our findings indicate that the firn aquifer in the vicinity of the field site is likely not in a steady state and its presence likely contributed to past ice shelf instability.</span></p> application/pdf 10.1029/2020GL089552 en Wiley Hydrologic properties of a highly permeable firn aquifer in the Wilkins Ice Shelf, Antarctica article