The description of grounding line migration in a two-dimensional mathematical model of an ice sheet

Abstract

Contemporary thinning of the marine-based areas of ice sheets is believed to be the consequence of the grounding line retreat caused mainly by ocean gradual warming beneath the ice shelves. In order to estimate potential contribution of ice sheets into the future sea-level rise grounding line migration must be accurately described in the mathematical models. We incorporated an algorithm based on application of the boundary condition on the mass flux across the grounding line into a two-dimensional ice flow model. In the numerical experiments, externally forced ice sheet returns to its initial equilibrium state after termination of the external forcing (either accumulation rate or sea-level change anomalies). In future, the model will be modified to incorporate buttressing effect.

Keywords

• antarctica ice sheet
• climatic variations
• grounding line
• ice flow
• ice shelf
• mathematical model.