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

David E. Gwyther; Eva A. Cougnon; Benjamin K. Galton-Fenzi; Jason L. Roberts; John R. Hunter; Michael S. Dinniman

doi:10.1017/aog.2016.31

Annals of Glaciology (Sep 2016)

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

David E. Gwyther,
Eva A. Cougnon,
Benjamin K. Galton-Fenzi,
Jason L. Roberts,
John R. Hunter,
Michael S. Dinniman

Affiliations

David E. Gwyther: Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia E-mail: Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 80, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
Eva A. Cougnon: Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia E-mail: Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 80, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Marine and Atmospheric Research, Hobart, Australia
Benjamin K. Galton-Fenzi: Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 80, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia Australian Antarctic Division, Channel Highway, Kingston, Tasmania, 7050, Australia
Jason L. Roberts: Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 80, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia Australian Antarctic Division, Channel Highway, Kingston, Tasmania, 7050, Australia
John R. Hunter: Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 80, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
Michael S. Dinniman: Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2016.31
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 57
pp. 131 – 141

Abstract

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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).

Published in Annals of Glaciology

ISSN: 0260-3055 (Print); 1727-5644 (Online)
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science: Physics: Meteorology. Climatology
Website: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/annals-of-glaciology

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