Articles | Volume 19, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2087-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2087-2025
Research article
 | 
19 Jun 2025
Research article |  | 19 Jun 2025

Viscoelastic mechanics of tidally induced lake drainage in the grounding zone

Hanwen Zhang, Richard F. Katz, and Laura A. Stevens

Model code and software

TidalHydroFrac Hanwen Zhang https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10781685

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Short summary

In Antarctica, supraglacial lakes often form near grounding lines due to surface melting. We model viscoelastic tidal flexure in these regions to assess its contribution to lake drainage via hydrofracturing. Results show that tidal flexure and lake-water pressure jointly control drainage near unconfined grounding lines. Sensitivity analysis indicates the importance of the Maxwell time of ice in modulating the tidal response.

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