A theoretical steady state profile of ice sheets (two-dimentional model)

• Main Author: Takesi Nagata
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: National Institute of Polar Research 1977
• Subjects: geo; envir; Greenland; Ice Sheet
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.15094/00007961; https://doaj.org/article/019c4f09fda94a07a2de2c260941a9ac

The Nye's kinematic theory of ice sheet profiles is revised on the basis of the conservation law of ice mass, because the Nye's ice sheet model or the revised Haefeli's model does not satisfy the ice mass conservation law and therefore they cannot have a steady state. In the present revised theory, the mass conservation condition is represented by [numerical formula] in place of Nye-Haefeli assumption that bx=uh, where cos θ・ds=dx, -dh/dx=tanθ, and b and h(x) denote respectively the ice accumulation rate and the height of ice sheet surface. Then, the revised ice sheet profile is expressed by [numerical formula], where h=H at x=0 and x=L at h=0. This ice sheet profile model satisfies the ice mass conservation within the ice sheet. In this model, the equilibrium point to separate the ablation area from the accumulation area is clearly defined, and the stream-lines of ice now within the ice sheet are explicitly determined. It seems further that the agreement of the present steady state theoretical model of ice sheet profile with the observed data in Greenland is satisfactory.