Articles | Volume 15, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4589-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4589-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
29 Sep 2021
Research article |
| 29 Sep 2021
| 29 Sep 2021
The role of grain size evolution in the rheology of ice: implications for reconciling laboratory creep data and the Glen flow law
Dept. Earth & Environmental Sciences, Boston College, Chestnut
Hill, MA 02467, USA
David L. Goldsby
Dept. Earth & Environmental Science, University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
Greg Hirth
Dept. Earth, Environmental & Planetary Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
Viewed
Total article views: 4,774 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 14 Nov 2020)
| HTML | XML | Total | Supplement | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,131 | 1,527 | 116 | 4,774 | 267 | 147 | 161 |
- HTML: 3,131
- PDF: 1,527
- XML: 116
- Total: 4,774
- Supplement: 267
- BibTeX: 147
- EndNote: 161
Total article views: 3,858 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 29 Sep 2021)
| HTML | XML | Total | Supplement | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,676 | 1,077 | 105 | 3,858 | 171 | 132 | 152 |
- HTML: 2,676
- PDF: 1,077
- XML: 105
- Total: 3,858
- Supplement: 171
- BibTeX: 132
- EndNote: 152
Total article views: 916 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 14 Nov 2020)
| HTML | XML | Total | Supplement | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 455 | 450 | 11 | 916 | 96 | 15 | 9 |
- HTML: 455
- PDF: 450
- XML: 11
- Total: 916
- Supplement: 96
- BibTeX: 15
- EndNote: 9
Viewed (geographical distribution)
Total article views: 4,774 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 4,627 with geography defined
and 147 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 3,858 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 3,732 with geography defined
and 126 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 916 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 895 with geography defined
and 21 with unknown origin.
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
Cited
21 citations as recorded by crossref.
- A grain-size driven transition in the deformation mechanism in slow snow compression K. Sundu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2023.119359
- Creep enhancement and sliding in a temperate, hard-bedded alpine glacier J. Roldán-Blasco et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-267-2025
- Reduced basal motion responsible for 50 years of declining ice velocities on Athabasca Glacier D. Polashenski et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2024.51
- Properties of water, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen ices in planetary surface environments K. Fard & I. Smith https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2023.115895
- Changes in grain size during the stress relaxation stage of viscoelastic firn Y. Li https://doi.org/10.1080/14786435.2023.2296656
- Hidden cascades of seismic ice stream deformation A. Fichtner et al. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adp8094
- Modelling the influence of marine ice on the dynamics of an idealised ice shelf L. Craw et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2022.66
- Topological alternation from structurally adaptable to mechanically stable crosslinked polymer W. Hu et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/14686996.2021.2025426
- How does Antarctic ice deform? B. Riel https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adw3158
- Deep learning the flow law of Antarctic ice shelves Y. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adp3300
- AutoICE: An automated tool for estimating ice thickness and volume of glaciers in mountain regions P. Navinkumar & R. Ramsankaran https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2026.106953
- Grain growth of ice doped with soluble impurities Q. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-1053-2024
- Triton’s Captured Youth: Tidal Heating Kept Triton Warm and Active for Billions of Years N. Hammond & G. Collins https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ad6744
- A modified viscous flow law for natural glacier ice: Scaling from laboratories to ice sheets M. Ranganathan & B. Minchew https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2309788121
- A peridynamic framework for ice–structure interaction: modelling rate-dependent ice fracture under impact loading Y. Galadima et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221686.2025.2519326
- Glacial Thrusts: Implications for the Crustal Deformation of the Icy Satellites C. Rossi et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/glacies2010004
- Can changes in deformation regimes be inferred from crystallographic preferred orientations in polar ice? M. Llorens et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2009-2022
- Long-term analysis of cryoseismic events and associated ground thermal stress in Adventdalen, Svalbard R. Romeyn et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2025-2022
- Grain growth inhibited during grain size-sensitive creep in polycrystalline ice: an energy dissipation-rate perspective T. Caswell & R. Cooper https://doi.org/10.1007/s00269-022-01202-9
- The effect of ice shelf rheology on shelf edge bending W. Buck https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-4165-2024
- Assessing the effects of fjord geometry on Greenland tidewater glacier stability E. Fischer & A. Aschwanden https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2024.55
21 citations as recorded by crossref.
- A grain-size driven transition in the deformation mechanism in slow snow compression K. Sundu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2023.119359
- Creep enhancement and sliding in a temperate, hard-bedded alpine glacier J. Roldán-Blasco et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-267-2025
- Reduced basal motion responsible for 50 years of declining ice velocities on Athabasca Glacier D. Polashenski et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2024.51
- Properties of water, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen ices in planetary surface environments K. Fard & I. Smith https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2023.115895
- Changes in grain size during the stress relaxation stage of viscoelastic firn Y. Li https://doi.org/10.1080/14786435.2023.2296656
- Hidden cascades of seismic ice stream deformation A. Fichtner et al. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adp8094
- Modelling the influence of marine ice on the dynamics of an idealised ice shelf L. Craw et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2022.66
- Topological alternation from structurally adaptable to mechanically stable crosslinked polymer W. Hu et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/14686996.2021.2025426
- How does Antarctic ice deform? B. Riel https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adw3158
- Deep learning the flow law of Antarctic ice shelves Y. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adp3300
- AutoICE: An automated tool for estimating ice thickness and volume of glaciers in mountain regions P. Navinkumar & R. Ramsankaran https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2026.106953
- Grain growth of ice doped with soluble impurities Q. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-1053-2024
- Triton’s Captured Youth: Tidal Heating Kept Triton Warm and Active for Billions of Years N. Hammond & G. Collins https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ad6744
- A modified viscous flow law for natural glacier ice: Scaling from laboratories to ice sheets M. Ranganathan & B. Minchew https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2309788121
- A peridynamic framework for ice–structure interaction: modelling rate-dependent ice fracture under impact loading Y. Galadima et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221686.2025.2519326
- Glacial Thrusts: Implications for the Crustal Deformation of the Icy Satellites C. Rossi et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/glacies2010004
- Can changes in deformation regimes be inferred from crystallographic preferred orientations in polar ice? M. Llorens et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2009-2022
- Long-term analysis of cryoseismic events and associated ground thermal stress in Adventdalen, Svalbard R. Romeyn et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2025-2022
- Grain growth inhibited during grain size-sensitive creep in polycrystalline ice: an energy dissipation-rate perspective T. Caswell & R. Cooper https://doi.org/10.1007/s00269-022-01202-9
- The effect of ice shelf rheology on shelf edge bending W. Buck https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-4165-2024
- Assessing the effects of fjord geometry on Greenland tidewater glacier stability E. Fischer & A. Aschwanden https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2024.55
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 09 Jun 2026
Short summary
Grain size is a key microphysical property of ice, controlling the rheological behavior of ice sheets and glaciers. In this study, we develop a new model for grain size evolution in ice and show that it accurately predicts grain size in laboratory experiments and in natural ice core data. The model provides a physical explanation for the power-law relationship between stress and strain rate known as the Glen law and can be used as a predictive tool for modeling ice flow in natural systems.
Grain size is a key microphysical property of ice, controlling the rheological behavior of ice...
