Marine terminating glaciers within Elmer/Ice: model and applications

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• Olivier Gagliardini (Laboratoire de glaciologie et géophysique de l’environnement)
• Thursday 19 March 2015, 16:30-17:30
• Scott Polar Research Institute, main lecture theatre.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Poul Christoffersen.

NOTE: THIS TALK IS ON A THURSDAY

Over the last two decades, new observing systems have shown that the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have contributed 20% of the global sea level rise (SLR). Ice sheets impact sea level through variations of their surface mass balance and their ice discharge. For Antarctica, no trend in snow accumulation has been identified for the entire Antarctic ice sheet over the recent decades. In contrast, a number of outlet glaciers have continuously accelerated, particularly in Western Antarctica. A consensus has emerged on the role of the ocean as a driver of the observed acceleration: marine melt underneath the ice shelves drives changes in ice dynamics by decreasing the buttressing. Upon a retreat has been initiated, the bedrock configuration plays also a key role in controlling the rate and extend of the grounding line retreat.

Prediction of the dynamical contribution to SLR of ice-sheets require the development of ice flow models capable to account for these various processes. In this presentation, I will make an overview of the modelling effort performed these last years using the ice-sheet / ice flow finite element model Elmer/Ice. I will focus on the grounding line dynamics and associated processes: basal melting below the ice-shelf, basal friction, calving. I will present the processes already included in Elmer/Ice and the corresponding applications. I will then present the missing processes that should be implemented in the near future developments.

This talk is part of the Scott Polar Research Institute - Polar Physical Sciences Seminar series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• AUB_Cambridge Seminars
• Climate Science Seminars within Cambridge
• Department of Geography
• Scott Polar Research Institute - Polar Physical Sciences Seminar
• Scott Polar Research Institute, main lecture theatre
• seminars

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