Modelling the response of ice shelf basal melting to different ocean cavity environmental regimes

• Published in: Annals of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Gwyther, David E., Cougnon, Eva A., Galton-Fenzi, Benjamin K., Roberts, Jason L., Hunter, John R., Dinniman, Michael S.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press 2016
• Subjects: ice/ocean interactions; KEYWORDS ice shelves; melt - basal; 1904 Earth-Surface Processes; Ice Shelf; Ice Shelves
• Online Access: https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:99846b9

We present simulation results from a version of the Regional Ocean Modeling System modified for ice shelf/ocean interaction, including the parameterisation of basal melting by molecular diffusion alone. Simulations investigate the differences in melting for an idealised ice shelf experiencing a range of cold to hot ocean cavity conditions. Both the pattern of melt and the location of maximum melt shift due to changes in the buoyancy-driven circulation, in a different way to previous studies. Tidal forcing increases both the circulation strength and melting, with the strongest impact on the cold cavity case. Our results highlight the importance of including a complete melt parameterisation and tidal forcing. In response to the 2.4°C ocean warming initially applied to a cold cavity ice shelf, we find that melting will increase by about an order of magnitude (24 × with tides and 41 × without tides).