A Flow-line Model for Calculating the Surface Profile and the Velocity, Strain-rate, and Stress Fields in an Ice Sheet

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Author: Reeh, Niels
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1988
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Ice Sheet; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000009059; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000009059

Abstract A flow-line model is presented for calculating the surface profile and the velocity, strain-rate, and stress fields in an ice sheet with given base-elevation profile, ice thickness at the dome (divide), flow-law parameters, mass-balance distribution, and convergence/divergence conditions along the flow line. The model, which is based on a “quasi-similarity” hypothesis as regards the horizontal velocity-depth profiles, accounts for changes along the flow line in the depth distributions of temperature, normal stress deviators, and possible enhanced flow of deep ice of Wisconsin origin. A curvilinear coordinate system is applied with horizontal axes along flow lines and surface-elevation contours, respectively. The flow equations are reduced to two differential equations, one for the surface-elevation profile, and the other for a profile function that determines the depth distributions of velocities and strain-rates. The two equations are coupled through a profile parameter that communicates the influence of velocity-profile changes to the surface-profile equation. It is shown that the variation along the flow line of this parameter should also be considered when deriving flow-law parameters from ice-sheet flow-line data. For a symmetric dome, explicit expressions are derived for the depth distributions of the vertical velocity, strain-rates, and stresses. The strain-rate profiles display an inflection about half-way down the ice sheet, and, in the case of isothermal ice, have surface values 2.2 times their depth-averaged values. The depth distribution of the vertical velocity indicates that a relatively thick layer of almost stagnant ice is present at the ice-sheet base below a dome.