The Effects of Basal Melting on the Present Flow of the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica
Abstract We use a hybrid finite-element/finite-difference model of ice-shelf flow and heat transfer to investigate the effects of basal melting on the present observed flow of the Ross Ice Shelf, Two hypothetical basal melting scenarios are compared: (i) zero melting everywhere and (ii) melting suff...
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Cambridge University Press (CUP)
1986
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000006900 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000006900 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0022143000006900 2024-09-15T17:48:08+00:00 The Effects of Basal Melting on the Present Flow of the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica MacAyeal, D.R. Thomas, R.H. 1986 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000006900 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000006900 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) Journal of Glaciology volume 32, issue 110, page 72-86 ISSN 0022-1430 1727-5652 journal-article 1986 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000006900 2024-07-17T04:04:25Z Abstract We use a hybrid finite-element/finite-difference model of ice-shelf flow and heat transfer to investigate the effects of basal melting on the present observed flow of the Ross Ice Shelf, Two hypothetical basal melting scenarios are compared: (i) zero melting everywhere and (ii) melting sufficient to balance any large-scale patterns of ice-shelf thickening that would otherwise occur. As a result of the temperature-dependent flow law (which we idealize as having a constant activation energy of 120 kJ mol −1 , a scaling coefficient of 1.3 N m −2 s 1/3 , and an exponent of 3), simulated ice-shelf velocities for the second scenario are reduced by up to 20% below those of the first. Our results support the hypothesis that melting patterns presently maintain ice thickness in steady state and conform to patterns of oceanic circulation presently thought to ventilate the sub-ice cavity. Differences between the simulated and observed velocities are too large in the extreme south-eastern quarter of the ice shelf to permit verification of either basal melting scenario. These differences highlight the need to improve model boundary conditions at points where ice streams feed the ice shelf and where the ice shelf meets stagnant grounded ice. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctica Ice Shelf Journal of Glaciology Ross Ice Shelf Cambridge University Press Journal of Glaciology 32 110 72 86 |
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Open Polar |
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Cambridge University Press |
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crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
description |
Abstract We use a hybrid finite-element/finite-difference model of ice-shelf flow and heat transfer to investigate the effects of basal melting on the present observed flow of the Ross Ice Shelf, Two hypothetical basal melting scenarios are compared: (i) zero melting everywhere and (ii) melting sufficient to balance any large-scale patterns of ice-shelf thickening that would otherwise occur. As a result of the temperature-dependent flow law (which we idealize as having a constant activation energy of 120 kJ mol −1 , a scaling coefficient of 1.3 N m −2 s 1/3 , and an exponent of 3), simulated ice-shelf velocities for the second scenario are reduced by up to 20% below those of the first. Our results support the hypothesis that melting patterns presently maintain ice thickness in steady state and conform to patterns of oceanic circulation presently thought to ventilate the sub-ice cavity. Differences between the simulated and observed velocities are too large in the extreme south-eastern quarter of the ice shelf to permit verification of either basal melting scenario. These differences highlight the need to improve model boundary conditions at points where ice streams feed the ice shelf and where the ice shelf meets stagnant grounded ice. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
MacAyeal, D.R. Thomas, R.H. |
spellingShingle |
MacAyeal, D.R. Thomas, R.H. The Effects of Basal Melting on the Present Flow of the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica |
author_facet |
MacAyeal, D.R. Thomas, R.H. |
author_sort |
MacAyeal, D.R. |
title |
The Effects of Basal Melting on the Present Flow of the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica |
title_short |
The Effects of Basal Melting on the Present Flow of the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica |
title_full |
The Effects of Basal Melting on the Present Flow of the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica |
title_fullStr |
The Effects of Basal Melting on the Present Flow of the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Effects of Basal Melting on the Present Flow of the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica |
title_sort |
effects of basal melting on the present flow of the ross ice shelf, antarctica |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
1986 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000006900 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000006900 |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctica Ice Shelf Journal of Glaciology Ross Ice Shelf |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctica Ice Shelf Journal of Glaciology Ross Ice Shelf |
op_source |
Journal of Glaciology volume 32, issue 110, page 72-86 ISSN 0022-1430 1727-5652 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000006900 |
container_title |
Journal of Glaciology |
container_volume |
32 |
container_issue |
110 |
container_start_page |
72 |
op_container_end_page |
86 |
_version_ |
1810289257280962560 |