A model of the “liquid-like” layer between ice and a substrate with applications to wire regelation and particle migration

A mathematical model of the “liquid-like” layer that exists between ice and a substrate is developed and used to show the relationship between two problems in which a foreign object moves through ice. These problems are the motion of a weighted wire through ice (pressure-induced regelation) and the migration of particles in a temperature gradient (temperature gradient-induced regelation). The model predicts, among other things, two modes of behavior for pressure induced regelation. This phenomenon has been observed experimentally. Quantitative agreement between the predictions of the model and the available experimental data for both pressure- and temperature gradient-induced regelation is obtained if the liquid layer thickness is assumed to be 2.5 to 14 nm at −1°C and have a temperature dependence of T−12.