SHIMP The subglacial hydrology model intercomparison Project ...

• Main Authors: de Fleurian, Basile, Werder, Mauro, Beyer, Sebastian, Brinkerhoff, Douglas J., Delaney, Ian A., Dow, Christine F., Downs, Jacob, Gagliardini, Olivier, Hoffman, Matthew J., Hooke, Roger L., Seguinot, Julien, Sommers, Aleah N.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: ETH Zurich 2018
• Subjects: glacier hydrology; glacier modelling; glaciological model experiments; ice-sheet modelling; subglacial processes; Ice Sheet
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000305761; http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11850/305761

Subglacial hydrology plays a key role in many glaciological processes, including ice dynamics via the modulation of basal sliding. Owing to the lack of an overarching theory, however, a variety of model approximations exist to represent the subglacial drainage system. The Subglacial Hydrology Model Intercomparison Project (SHMIP) provides a set of synthetic experiments to compare existing and future models. We present the results from 13 participating models with a focus on effective pressure and discharge. For many applications (e.g. steady states and annual variations, low input scenarios) a simple model, such as an inefficient-system-only model, a flowline or lumped model, or a porous-layer model provides results comparable to those of more complex models. However, when studying short term (e.g. diurnal) variations of the water pressure, the use of a two-dimensional model incorporating physical representations of both efficient and inefficient drainage systems yields results that are significantly ... : Journal of Glaciology, 64 (248) ...