Summary
The temperature of upper 20 m was measured at four sites, S1, LJ, LJ24 and BJ, during a period of 21 months at the western Law Dome, Antarctica. the sensors were emplaced at the depths of 1, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 15 and 20 m. S1 is in ablation sphere with a dynamo-metamorphosed ice, LJ is in warm type densification sphere with firn alternated ice layer or band, LJ24 and BJ are in transformed type densification sphere with single firn in the upper 20 m. The analysis of the temperature measurements shows that the penetrated velocity of the warm wave into the ice, alternate layer of ice and firn, and firn is different from site to site. The maximum velocity is into the glacial ice at S1, then into the firn at LJ24 and BJ, and the minimum is into the alternate layer of ice and firn at LJ. Thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity are also similar as the warm wave penetration. the melting water percolates into the firn and then refreezes, releasing specific latent heat at LJ. This process influences the temperature regime and thermal property in this site as well.