An experimental and theoretical study of the dynamics of grounding lines
Abstract We present an experimental and theoretical study of a thin, viscous fluid layer that flows radially under gravity from a point source into a denser inviscid fluid layer of uniform depth above a rigid horizontal surface. Near the source, the viscous layer lies in full contact with the surfac...
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Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press (CUP)
2013
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2013.269 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022112013002693 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/jfm.2013.269 2024-03-03T08:37:36+00:00 An experimental and theoretical study of the dynamics of grounding lines Pegler, Samuel S. Worster, M. Grae 2013 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2013.269 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022112013002693 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms Journal of Fluid Mechanics volume 728, page 5-28 ISSN 0022-1120 1469-7645 Mechanical Engineering Mechanics of Materials Condensed Matter Physics journal-article 2013 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2013.269 2024-02-08T08:29:46Z Abstract We present an experimental and theoretical study of a thin, viscous fluid layer that flows radially under gravity from a point source into a denser inviscid fluid layer of uniform depth above a rigid horizontal surface. Near the source, the viscous layer lies in full contact with the surface, forming a vertical-shear-dominated viscous gravity current. At a certain distance from the source, the layer detaches from the surface to form a floating current whose dynamics are controlled by the viscous stresses due to longitudinal extension. We describe the dynamics of the grounded and floating components using distinct thin-layer theories. Separating the grounded and floating regions is the freely moving line of detachment, or grounding line, whose evolution we model by balancing the horizontal forces between the two regions. Using numerical and asymptotic analysis, we calculate the evolution of the system from a self-similar form at early times towards a steady state at late times. We use our solutions to illustrate how three-dimensional stresses within marine ice sheets, such as that of West Antarctica, can lead to stabilization of the grounding line. To assess the validity of the assumptions underlying our model, we compare its predictions with data from a series of laboratory experiments. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctica West Antarctica Cambridge University Press West Antarctica Journal of Fluid Mechanics 728 5 28 |
institution |
Open Polar |
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Cambridge University Press |
op_collection_id |
crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
topic |
Mechanical Engineering Mechanics of Materials Condensed Matter Physics |
spellingShingle |
Mechanical Engineering Mechanics of Materials Condensed Matter Physics Pegler, Samuel S. Worster, M. Grae An experimental and theoretical study of the dynamics of grounding lines |
topic_facet |
Mechanical Engineering Mechanics of Materials Condensed Matter Physics |
description |
Abstract We present an experimental and theoretical study of a thin, viscous fluid layer that flows radially under gravity from a point source into a denser inviscid fluid layer of uniform depth above a rigid horizontal surface. Near the source, the viscous layer lies in full contact with the surface, forming a vertical-shear-dominated viscous gravity current. At a certain distance from the source, the layer detaches from the surface to form a floating current whose dynamics are controlled by the viscous stresses due to longitudinal extension. We describe the dynamics of the grounded and floating components using distinct thin-layer theories. Separating the grounded and floating regions is the freely moving line of detachment, or grounding line, whose evolution we model by balancing the horizontal forces between the two regions. Using numerical and asymptotic analysis, we calculate the evolution of the system from a self-similar form at early times towards a steady state at late times. We use our solutions to illustrate how three-dimensional stresses within marine ice sheets, such as that of West Antarctica, can lead to stabilization of the grounding line. To assess the validity of the assumptions underlying our model, we compare its predictions with data from a series of laboratory experiments. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Pegler, Samuel S. Worster, M. Grae |
author_facet |
Pegler, Samuel S. Worster, M. Grae |
author_sort |
Pegler, Samuel S. |
title |
An experimental and theoretical study of the dynamics of grounding lines |
title_short |
An experimental and theoretical study of the dynamics of grounding lines |
title_full |
An experimental and theoretical study of the dynamics of grounding lines |
title_fullStr |
An experimental and theoretical study of the dynamics of grounding lines |
title_full_unstemmed |
An experimental and theoretical study of the dynamics of grounding lines |
title_sort |
experimental and theoretical study of the dynamics of grounding lines |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2013 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2013.269 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022112013002693 |
geographic |
West Antarctica |
geographic_facet |
West Antarctica |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctica West Antarctica |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctica West Antarctica |
op_source |
Journal of Fluid Mechanics volume 728, page 5-28 ISSN 0022-1120 1469-7645 |
op_rights |
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2013.269 |
container_title |
Journal of Fluid Mechanics |
container_volume |
728 |
container_start_page |
5 |
op_container_end_page |
28 |
_version_ |
1792500109622116352 |