The intermixed thermal and structural framework of cold firn, water-saturated firn and ice layers in Greenland's percolation zone can be challenging to penetrate with core drills. Here, we present our experiences using a hot water drill for research on the firn layer of the percolation zone. We built and deployed a lightweight and easily transportable system for drilling a transect of ~15 cm diameter boreholes through the full firn column thickness, to depths exceeding 100 m. An instrumented drill stem provides a scientific measurement of the firn properties while drilling. The system was successful at gaining rapid access to the firn column with mixed wet and cold conditions, was easily transported to the site and across the glacier surface, and required a small field crew to operate. The boreholes are well suited for in situ investigations of firn processes in Greenland percolation zone.

中文翻译：

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格陵兰渗流带冰层热水钻探

格陵兰岛渗流带冷冰层、水饱和冰层和冰层的混合热结构和结构框架可能很难用取芯钻穿透。在这里，我们介绍了我们使用热水钻头研究渗流带冰层的经验。我们构建并部署了一个轻量级且易于运输的系统，用于在整个冰柱厚度中钻出直径约 15 cm 的横断面钻孔，深度超过 100 m。带仪表的钻杆可在钻井时对岩层特性进行科学测量。该系统成功地在潮湿和寒冷的混合条件下快速进入冰柱，很容易运输到现场并穿过冰川表面，并且需要少量的现场工作人员来操作。