Self-organization in the thermomechanical flow of ice sheets
This paper uses a three-dimensional, thermomechanical ice sheet model to investigate the initiation and evolution of ice streams within ice sheets. Ice streams are distinguished within general ice sheet flow by their relatively fast (of the order of kilometers per year) velocity and are thought to b...
Main Authors: | , |
---|---|
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
1997
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/1983/b4983b7b-6ef2-4761-8e57-bfd96ce94588 https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/publications/b4983b7b-6ef2-4761-8e57-bfd96ce94588 |
id |
ftubristolcris:oai:research-information.bris.ac.uk:publications/b4983b7b-6ef2-4761-8e57-bfd96ce94588 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftubristolcris:oai:research-information.bris.ac.uk:publications/b4983b7b-6ef2-4761-8e57-bfd96ce94588 2024-05-12T07:55:14+00:00 Self-organization in the thermomechanical flow of ice sheets Payne, AJ Dongelmans, PW 1997-06-10 https://hdl.handle.net/1983/b4983b7b-6ef2-4761-8e57-bfd96ce94588 https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/publications/b4983b7b-6ef2-4761-8e57-bfd96ce94588 eng eng https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/publications/b4983b7b-6ef2-4761-8e57-bfd96ce94588 info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess Payne , AJ & Dongelmans , PW 1997 , ' Self-organization in the thermomechanical flow of ice sheets ' , Journal of Geophysical Research , vol. 102 , no. B6 , pp. 12219-12233 . MODEL ANTARCTICA SEDIMENT GLACIERS DYNAMICS STREAMS CREEP SHELF article 1997 ftubristolcris 2024-04-17T14:15:14Z This paper uses a three-dimensional, thermomechanical ice sheet model to investigate the initiation and evolution of ice streams within ice sheets. Ice streams are distinguished within general ice sheet flow by their relatively fast (of the order of kilometers per year) velocity and are thought to be crucial in determining the response of ice sheets to climatic change. We show that streaming can arise solely as a consequence of internal feedback between ice sheet flow and temperature. Inhomogeneities in topography and/or geology are not therefore necessary conditions for ice stream development. This spatial patterning replaces the large-scale surging reported from previous modeling work in one horizontal dimension. We suggest that surging is restricted to situations where ice flow is channelized (e.g., valley glaciers) and that it is replaced by streaming where horizontal ice flow is unconstrained (ice sheets). The ice streams in some of our experiments show switching behavior reminiscent of that known from the Siple Coast ice streams, West Antarctica. The cause appears to be the competition for ice discharge and drainage basin area between adjacent ice streams. This may lead to the gradual reduction of a stream's discharge below the threshold necessary to generate enough frictional heat to maintain warm, viscous ice at the ice stream bed. In this case the stream will stagnate abruptly, which then prompts localized ice thickening and the initiation of a new stream in a different location. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctica Ice Sheet West Antarctica University of Bristol: Bristol Research Siple ENVELOPE(-83.917,-83.917,-75.917,-75.917) Siple Coast ENVELOPE(-155.000,-155.000,-82.000,-82.000) West Antarctica |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Bristol: Bristol Research |
op_collection_id |
ftubristolcris |
language |
English |
topic |
MODEL ANTARCTICA SEDIMENT GLACIERS DYNAMICS STREAMS CREEP SHELF |
spellingShingle |
MODEL ANTARCTICA SEDIMENT GLACIERS DYNAMICS STREAMS CREEP SHELF Payne, AJ Dongelmans, PW Self-organization in the thermomechanical flow of ice sheets |
topic_facet |
MODEL ANTARCTICA SEDIMENT GLACIERS DYNAMICS STREAMS CREEP SHELF |
description |
This paper uses a three-dimensional, thermomechanical ice sheet model to investigate the initiation and evolution of ice streams within ice sheets. Ice streams are distinguished within general ice sheet flow by their relatively fast (of the order of kilometers per year) velocity and are thought to be crucial in determining the response of ice sheets to climatic change. We show that streaming can arise solely as a consequence of internal feedback between ice sheet flow and temperature. Inhomogeneities in topography and/or geology are not therefore necessary conditions for ice stream development. This spatial patterning replaces the large-scale surging reported from previous modeling work in one horizontal dimension. We suggest that surging is restricted to situations where ice flow is channelized (e.g., valley glaciers) and that it is replaced by streaming where horizontal ice flow is unconstrained (ice sheets). The ice streams in some of our experiments show switching behavior reminiscent of that known from the Siple Coast ice streams, West Antarctica. The cause appears to be the competition for ice discharge and drainage basin area between adjacent ice streams. This may lead to the gradual reduction of a stream's discharge below the threshold necessary to generate enough frictional heat to maintain warm, viscous ice at the ice stream bed. In this case the stream will stagnate abruptly, which then prompts localized ice thickening and the initiation of a new stream in a different location. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Payne, AJ Dongelmans, PW |
author_facet |
Payne, AJ Dongelmans, PW |
author_sort |
Payne, AJ |
title |
Self-organization in the thermomechanical flow of ice sheets |
title_short |
Self-organization in the thermomechanical flow of ice sheets |
title_full |
Self-organization in the thermomechanical flow of ice sheets |
title_fullStr |
Self-organization in the thermomechanical flow of ice sheets |
title_full_unstemmed |
Self-organization in the thermomechanical flow of ice sheets |
title_sort |
self-organization in the thermomechanical flow of ice sheets |
publishDate |
1997 |
url |
https://hdl.handle.net/1983/b4983b7b-6ef2-4761-8e57-bfd96ce94588 https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/publications/b4983b7b-6ef2-4761-8e57-bfd96ce94588 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-83.917,-83.917,-75.917,-75.917) ENVELOPE(-155.000,-155.000,-82.000,-82.000) |
geographic |
Siple Siple Coast West Antarctica |
geographic_facet |
Siple Siple Coast West Antarctica |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctica Ice Sheet West Antarctica |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctica Ice Sheet West Antarctica |
op_source |
Payne , AJ & Dongelmans , PW 1997 , ' Self-organization in the thermomechanical flow of ice sheets ' , Journal of Geophysical Research , vol. 102 , no. B6 , pp. 12219-12233 . |
op_relation |
https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/publications/b4983b7b-6ef2-4761-8e57-bfd96ce94588 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess |
_version_ |
1798834991007793152 |