Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

A New Numerical Model Of Coupled Inland Ice Sheet, Ice Stream, And Ice Shelf Flow And Its Application To The West Antarctic Ice Sheet, Christina L. Hulbe, D. R. Macayeal

Geology Faculty Publications and Presentations

We have developed a dynamic/thermodynamic finite element numerical model that couples inland ice sheet, ice stream, and ice shelf dynamics. This new model stands apart from other whole ice sheet models in its explicit treatment of ice stream flow. Additionally, the model accounts for both horizontal and vertical advection and diffusion of temperature in the flowing ice. In present day simulations of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS), modeled ice velocity agrees well with observed ice flow. In particular, the model reproduces the pattern of speed variation across ice streams although the continuous downstream speed up of ice flow cannot …