Numerical modelling and data assimilation of the Larsen B ice shelf, Antarctic Peninsula

In this study, the flow and rheology of pre-collapse Larsen B ice shelf are investigated by using a combination of flow modelling and data assimilation. Observed shelf velocities from satellite interferometry are used to constrain an ice shelf model by using a data assimilation technique based on th...

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Published in:Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
Main Authors: Vieli, Andreas, Payne, Antony J, Du, Zhijun, Shepherd, Andrew
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: The Royal Society 2006
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2006.1800
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsta.2006.1800
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full-xml/10.1098/rsta.2006.1800
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spelling crroyalsociety:10.1098/rsta.2006.1800 2024-09-15T17:48:14+00:00 Numerical modelling and data assimilation of the Larsen B ice shelf, Antarctic Peninsula Vieli, Andreas Payne, Antony J Du, Zhijun Shepherd, Andrew 2006 http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2006.1800 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsta.2006.1800 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full-xml/10.1098/rsta.2006.1800 en eng The Royal Society https://royalsociety.org/journals/ethics-policies/data-sharing-mining/ Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences volume 364, issue 1844, page 1815-1839 ISSN 1364-503X 1471-2962 journal-article 2006 crroyalsociety https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2006.1800 2024-08-26T04:21:02Z In this study, the flow and rheology of pre-collapse Larsen B ice shelf are investigated by using a combination of flow modelling and data assimilation. Observed shelf velocities from satellite interferometry are used to constrain an ice shelf model by using a data assimilation technique based on the control method. In particular, the ice rheology field and the velocities at the inland shelf boundary are simultaneously optimized to get a modelled flow and stress field that is consistent with the observed flow. The application to the Larsen B ice shelf shows that a strong weakening of the ice in the shear zones, mostly along the margins, is necessary to fit the observed shelf flow. This pattern of bands with weak ice is a very robust feature of the inversion, whereas the ice rheology within the main shelf body is found to be not well constrained. This suggests that these weak zones play a major role in the control of the flow of the Larsen B ice shelf and may be the key to understanding the observed pre-collapse thinning and acceleration of Larsen B. Regarding the sensitivity of the stress field to rheology, the consistency of the model with the observed flow seems crucial for any further analysis such as the application of fracture mechanics or perturbation model experiments. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Ice Shelf The Royal Society Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 364 1844 1815 1839
institution Open Polar
collection The Royal Society
op_collection_id crroyalsociety
language English
description In this study, the flow and rheology of pre-collapse Larsen B ice shelf are investigated by using a combination of flow modelling and data assimilation. Observed shelf velocities from satellite interferometry are used to constrain an ice shelf model by using a data assimilation technique based on the control method. In particular, the ice rheology field and the velocities at the inland shelf boundary are simultaneously optimized to get a modelled flow and stress field that is consistent with the observed flow. The application to the Larsen B ice shelf shows that a strong weakening of the ice in the shear zones, mostly along the margins, is necessary to fit the observed shelf flow. This pattern of bands with weak ice is a very robust feature of the inversion, whereas the ice rheology within the main shelf body is found to be not well constrained. This suggests that these weak zones play a major role in the control of the flow of the Larsen B ice shelf and may be the key to understanding the observed pre-collapse thinning and acceleration of Larsen B. Regarding the sensitivity of the stress field to rheology, the consistency of the model with the observed flow seems crucial for any further analysis such as the application of fracture mechanics or perturbation model experiments.
format Article in Journal/Newspaper
author Vieli, Andreas
Payne, Antony J
Du, Zhijun
Shepherd, Andrew
spellingShingle Vieli, Andreas
Payne, Antony J
Du, Zhijun
Shepherd, Andrew
Numerical modelling and data assimilation of the Larsen B ice shelf, Antarctic Peninsula
author_facet Vieli, Andreas
Payne, Antony J
Du, Zhijun
Shepherd, Andrew
author_sort Vieli, Andreas
title Numerical modelling and data assimilation of the Larsen B ice shelf, Antarctic Peninsula
title_short Numerical modelling and data assimilation of the Larsen B ice shelf, Antarctic Peninsula
title_full Numerical modelling and data assimilation of the Larsen B ice shelf, Antarctic Peninsula
title_fullStr Numerical modelling and data assimilation of the Larsen B ice shelf, Antarctic Peninsula
title_full_unstemmed Numerical modelling and data assimilation of the Larsen B ice shelf, Antarctic Peninsula
title_sort numerical modelling and data assimilation of the larsen b ice shelf, antarctic peninsula
publisher The Royal Society
publishDate 2006
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2006.1800
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsta.2006.1800
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full-xml/10.1098/rsta.2006.1800
genre Antarc*
Antarctic
Antarctic Peninsula
Ice Shelf
genre_facet Antarc*
Antarctic
Antarctic Peninsula
Ice Shelf
op_source Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
volume 364, issue 1844, page 1815-1839
ISSN 1364-503X 1471-2962
op_rights https://royalsociety.org/journals/ethics-policies/data-sharing-mining/
op_doi https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2006.1800
container_title Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
container_volume 364
container_issue 1844
container_start_page 1815
op_container_end_page 1839
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