Existence and stability of steady-state solutions of the shallow-ice-sheet equation by an energy-minimization approach

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Jouvet, Guillaume, Rappaz, Jacques, Bueler, Ed, Blatter, Heinz
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: International Glaciological Society 2011
• Subjects: Weertman; Ice Sheet
• Online Access: http://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/169644; https://doi.org/10.3189/002214311796405852

The existence of solutions of the non-sliding shallow-ice-sheet equation on a flat horizontal bed with a mass balance linearly depending on altitude is proven for fixed margins. Free-margin solutions for the same mass balance do not exist. Fixed-margin solutions show unbounded shear stress and nonzero mass flux at the margin. Steady-state solutions with realistic margins, vanishing ice flux and vanishing shear stress are found numerically for ice sheets with Weertman-type sliding.