Articles | Volume 7, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1591-2013
© Author(s) 2013. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1591-2013
© Author(s) 2013. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
A particle based simulation model for glacier dynamics
J. A. Åström
CSC – IT Center for Science, P.O. Box 405, 02101, Esbo, Finland
T. I. Riikilä
Department of Physics, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35 (YFL), 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
T. Tallinen
Department of Physics, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35 (YFL), 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
T. Zwinger
CSC – IT Center for Science, P.O. Box 405, 02101, Esbo, Finland
Department of Geology, University Centre in Svalbard, 9171 Longyearbyen, Norway
School of Geography and Geosciences, University of St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8ST, UK
J. C. Moore
State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, PL122, 96100 Rovaniemi, Finland
Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, Uppsala, 75236, Sweden
J. Timonen
Department of Physics, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35 (YFL), 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
Related authors
Matias Uusinoka, Jari Haapala, Jan Åström, Mikko Lensu, and Arttu Polojärvi
The Cryosphere, 19, 6493–6506, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-6493-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-6493-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We tracked sea ice deformation over a nine-month period using high-resolution ship radar data and a state-of-the-art deep learning technique. We observe that the typically consistent scale-invariant pattern in sea ice deformation has a possible lower limit of about 102 meters in winter, but this behavior disappears during summer. Our findings provide important insights for considering current modeling assumptions and for connecting the scales of interest in sea ice dynamics.
Jan Åström, Fredrik Robertsen, Jari Haapala, Arttu Polojärvi, Rivo Uiboupin, and Ilja Maljutenko
The Cryosphere, 18, 2429–2442, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-2429-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-2429-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The HiDEM code has been developed for analyzing the fracture and fragmentation of brittle materials and has been extensively applied to glacier calving. Here, we report on the adaptation of the code to sea-ice dynamics and breakup. The code demonstrates the capability to simulate sea-ice dynamics on a 100 km scale with an unprecedented resolution. We argue that codes of this type may become useful for improving forecasts of sea-ice dynamics.
Douglas I. Benn, Adrian Luckman, Jan A. Åström, Anna J. Crawford, Stephen L. Cornford, Suzanne L. Bevan, Thomas Zwinger, Rupert Gladstone, Karen Alley, Erin Pettit, and Jeremy Bassis
The Cryosphere, 16, 2545–2564, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2545-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2545-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Thwaites Glacier (TG), in West Antarctica, is potentially unstable and may contribute significantly to sea-level rise as global warming continues. Using satellite data, we show that Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf, the largest remaining floating extension of TG, has started to accelerate as it fragments along a shear zone. Computer modelling does not indicate that fragmentation will lead to imminent glacier collapse, but it is clear that major, rapid, and unpredictable changes are underway.
Florian Vacek, Faezeh M. Nick, Douglas Benn, Maarten P. A. Zwarts, Walter Immerzeel, and Roderik S. W. van de Wal
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-5733, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-5733, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for The Cryosphere (TC).
Short summary
Short summary
We studied a unique glacier in South Greenland that ends in both a lake and the ocean. Using satellite data and field work, we found that the two glacier fronts behave very differently even under the same climate. At the lake glacier little melt below water and the presence of lake ice reduce the production of icebergs. The lake glacier experienced a sudden large breakup. Our work suggests that lake and marine glacier fronts must be treated differently in model simulations.
Matias Uusinoka, Jari Haapala, Jan Åström, Mikko Lensu, and Arttu Polojärvi
The Cryosphere, 19, 6493–6506, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-6493-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-6493-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We tracked sea ice deformation over a nine-month period using high-resolution ship radar data and a state-of-the-art deep learning technique. We observe that the typically consistent scale-invariant pattern in sea ice deformation has a possible lower limit of about 102 meters in winter, but this behavior disappears during summer. Our findings provide important insights for considering current modeling assumptions and for connecting the scales of interest in sea ice dynamics.
Yiliang Ma, Liyun Zhao, Rupert Gladstone, Thomas Zwinger, Michael Wolovick, Junshun Wang, and John C. Moore
The Cryosphere, 19, 6187–6205, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-6187-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-6187-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Totten Glacier in Antarctica holds a sea level potential of 3.85 m. Basal sliding and sub-shelf melt rate have an important impact on ice sheet dynamics. We simulate the evolution of Totten Glacier using an ice flow model with different basal sliding parameterizations and sub-shelf melt rates to quantify their effect on the projections. We found that the modelled glacier retreat and mass loss are sensitive to the choice of basal sliding parameterizations and maximal sub-shelf melt rate.
A. Clara J. Henry, Thomas Zwinger, and Josefin Ahlkrona
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4192, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4192, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Geoscientific Model Development (GMD).
Short summary
Short summary
To overcome time-step restrictions, we implement the Free-Surface Stabilisation Algorithm (FSSA) at the ice-ocean interface in Stokes ice-sheet simulations. In 2D experiments, a time step of 10 years is generally numerically stable and accurate, whereas a time step of 50 years is stable, but cannot fully capture grounding-line dynamics. Implementation at the ice-ocean interface increases the applicability of Stokes models and motivates future coupling with adaptive time-stepping schemes.
Johanna Beckmann, Ronja Reese, Felicity S. McCormack, Sue Cook, Lawrence Bird, Dawid Gwyther, Daniel Richards, Matthias Scheiter, Yu Wang, Hélène Seroussi, Ayako Abe‐Ouchi, Torsten Albrecht, Jorge Alvarez‐Solas, Xylar S. Asay‐Davis, Jean‐Baptiste Barre, Constantijn J. Berends, Jorge Bernales, Javier Blasco, Justine Caillet, David M. Chandler, Violaine Coulon, Richard Cullather, Christophe Dumas, Benjamin K. Galton‐Fenzi, Julius Garbe, Fabien Gillet‐Chaulet, Rupert Gladstone, Heiko Goelzer, Nicholas R. Golledge, Ralf Greve, G. Hilmar Gudmundsson, Holly Kyeore Han, Trevor R. Hillebrand, Matthew J. Hoffman, Philippe Huybrechts, Nicolas C. Jourdain, Ann Kristin Klose, Petra M. Langebroek, Gunter R. Leguy, William H. Lipscomb, Daniel P. Lowry, Pierre Mathiot, Marisa Montoya, Mathieu Morlighem, Sophie Nowicki, Frank Pattyn, Antony J. Payne, Tyler Pelle, Aurélien Quiquet, Alexander Robinson, Leopekka Saraste, Erika G. Simon, Sainan Sun, Jake P. Twarog, Luke D. Trusel, Benoit Urruty, Jonas Van Breedam, Roderik S. W. van de Wal, Chen Zhao, and Thomas Zwinger
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4069, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4069, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for The Cryosphere (TC).
Short summary
Short summary
Antarctica holds enough ice to raise sea levels by many meters, but its future is uncertain. Warm ocean water melts ice shelves from below, letting inland ice flow faster into the sea. By 2300, Antarctica could add 0.6–4.4 m to sea levels. Our study identifies two key factors—how strongly shelves melt and how the ice responds. These explain much of the range, and refining them in models may improve future predictions.
Junshun Wang, Liyun Zhao, Michael Wolovick, and John C. Moore
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3296, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3296, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Ice sheet models adjust basal sliding with assumed ice temperatures so that surface speeds match observations, leading to inconsistencies between basal thermal state and sliding fields. We propose a method to quantify these inconsistencies without requiring any subglacial measurements. This method is applied to ice sheet model of Totten Glacier using eight geothermal heat flux (GHF) datasets, yielding rankings of GHF that align with those based on radar data.
Yu Wang, Chen Zhao, Rupert Gladstone, Thomas Zwinger, Benjamin K. Galton-Fenzi, and Poul Christoffersen
The Cryosphere, 18, 5117–5137, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-5117-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-5117-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Our research delves into the future evolution of Antarctica's Wilkes Subglacial Basin (WSB) and its potential contribution to sea level rise, focusing on how basal melt is implemented at the grounding line in ice flow models. Our findings suggest that these implementation methods can significantly impact the magnitude of future ice loss projections. Under a high-emission scenario, the WSB ice sheet could undergo massive and rapid retreat between 2200 and 2300.
André Löfgren, Thomas Zwinger, Peter Råback, Christian Helanow, and Josefin Ahlkrona
The Cryosphere, 18, 3453–3470, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3453-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3453-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This paper investigates a stabilization method for free-surface flows in the context of glacier simulations. Previous applications of the stabilization on ice flows have only considered simple ice-sheet benchmark problems; in particular the method had not been tested on real-world glacier domains. This work addresses this shortcoming by demonstrating that the stabilization works well also in this case and increases stability and robustness without negatively impacting computation times.
Iain Wheel, Douglas I. Benn, Anna J. Crawford, Joe Todd, and Thomas Zwinger
Geosci. Model Dev., 17, 5759–5777, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-5759-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-5759-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Calving, the detachment of large icebergs from glaciers, is one of the largest uncertainties in future sea level rise projections. This process is poorly understood, and there is an absence of detailed models capable of simulating calving. A new 3D calving model has been developed to better understand calving at glaciers where detailed modelling was previously limited. Importantly, the new model is very flexible. By allowing for unrestricted calving geometries, it can be applied at any location.
Jan Åström, Fredrik Robertsen, Jari Haapala, Arttu Polojärvi, Rivo Uiboupin, and Ilja Maljutenko
The Cryosphere, 18, 2429–2442, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-2429-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-2429-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The HiDEM code has been developed for analyzing the fracture and fragmentation of brittle materials and has been extensively applied to glacier calving. Here, we report on the adaptation of the code to sea-ice dynamics and breakup. The code demonstrates the capability to simulate sea-ice dynamics on a 100 km scale with an unprecedented resolution. We argue that codes of this type may become useful for improving forecasts of sea-ice dynamics.
Daniele Visioni, Alan Robock, Jim Haywood, Matthew Henry, Simone Tilmes, Douglas G. MacMartin, Ben Kravitz, Sarah J. Doherty, John Moore, Chris Lennard, Shingo Watanabe, Helene Muri, Ulrike Niemeier, Olivier Boucher, Abu Syed, Temitope S. Egbebiyi, Roland Séférian, and Ilaria Quaglia
Geosci. Model Dev., 17, 2583–2596, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-2583-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-2583-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This paper describes a new experimental protocol for the Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project (GeoMIP). In it, we describe the details of a new simulation of sunlight reflection using the stratospheric aerosols that climate models are supposed to run, and we explain the reasons behind each choice we made when defining the protocol.
Abolfazl Rezaei, Khalil Karami, Simone Tilmes, and John C. Moore
Earth Syst. Dynam., 15, 91–108, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-15-91-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-15-91-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Water storage (WS) plays a profound role in the lives of people in the Middle East and North Africa as well as Mediterranean climate "hot spots". WS change by greenhouse gas (GHG) warming is simulated with and without stratospheric aerosol intervention (SAI). WS significantly increases in the Arabian Peninsula and decreases around the Mediterranean under GHG. While SAI partially ameliorates GHG impacts, projected WS increases in dry regions and decreases in wet areas relative to present climate.
Yan Huang, Liyun Zhao, Michael Wolovick, Yiliang Ma, and John C. Moore
The Cryosphere, 18, 103–119, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-103-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-103-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Geothermal heat flux (GHF) is an important factor affecting the basal thermal environment of an ice sheet and crucial for its dynamics. But it is poorly defined for the Antarctic ice sheet. We simulate the basal temperature and basal melting rate with eight different GHF datasets. We use specularity content as a two-sided constraint to discriminate between local wet or dry basal conditions. Two medium-magnitude GHF distribution maps rank well, showing that most of the inland bed area is frozen.
Chencheng Shen, John C. Moore, Heri Kuswanto, and Liyun Zhao
Earth Syst. Dynam., 14, 1317–1332, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-14-1317-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-14-1317-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The Indonesia Throughflow is an important pathway connecting the Pacific and Indian oceans and is part of a wind-driven circulation that is expected to reduce under greenhouse gas forcing. Solar dimming and sulfate aerosol injection geoengineering may reverse this effect. But stratospheric sulfate aerosols affect winds more than simply ``shading the sun''; they cause a reduction in water transport similar to that we simulate for a scenario with unabated greenhouse gas emissions.
Hélène Seroussi, Vincent Verjans, Sophie Nowicki, Antony J. Payne, Heiko Goelzer, William H. Lipscomb, Ayako Abe-Ouchi, Cécile Agosta, Torsten Albrecht, Xylar Asay-Davis, Alice Barthel, Reinhard Calov, Richard Cullather, Christophe Dumas, Benjamin K. Galton-Fenzi, Rupert Gladstone, Nicholas R. Golledge, Jonathan M. Gregory, Ralf Greve, Tore Hattermann, Matthew J. Hoffman, Angelika Humbert, Philippe Huybrechts, Nicolas C. Jourdain, Thomas Kleiner, Eric Larour, Gunter R. Leguy, Daniel P. Lowry, Chistopher M. Little, Mathieu Morlighem, Frank Pattyn, Tyler Pelle, Stephen F. Price, Aurélien Quiquet, Ronja Reese, Nicole-Jeanne Schlegel, Andrew Shepherd, Erika Simon, Robin S. Smith, Fiammetta Straneo, Sainan Sun, Luke D. Trusel, Jonas Van Breedam, Peter Van Katwyk, Roderik S. W. van de Wal, Ricarda Winkelmann, Chen Zhao, Tong Zhang, and Thomas Zwinger
The Cryosphere, 17, 5197–5217, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-5197-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-5197-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Mass loss from Antarctica is a key contributor to sea level rise over the 21st century, and the associated uncertainty dominates sea level projections. We highlight here the Antarctic glaciers showing the largest changes and quantify the main sources of uncertainty in their future evolution using an ensemble of ice flow models. We show that on top of Pine Island and Thwaites glaciers, Totten and Moscow University glaciers show rapid changes and a strong sensitivity to warmer ocean conditions.
Jun Wang, John C. Moore, and Liyun Zhao
Earth Syst. Dynam., 14, 989–1013, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-14-989-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-14-989-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Apparent temperatures and PM2.5 pollution depend on humidity and wind speed in addition to surface temperature and impact human health and comfort. Apparent temperatures will reach dangerous levels more commonly in the future because of water vapor pressure rises and lower expected wind speeds, but these will also drive changes in PM2.5. Solar geoengineering can significantly reduce the frequency of extreme events relative to modest and especially
business-as-usualgreenhouse scenarios.
Denis Cohen, Guillaume Jouvet, Thomas Zwinger, Angela Landgraf, and Urs H. Fischer
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 72, 189–201, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-72-189-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-72-189-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
During glacial times in Switzerland, glaciers of the Alps excavated valleys in low-lying regions that were later filled with sediment or water. How glaciers eroded these valleys is not well understood because erosion occurred near ice margins where ice moved slowly and was present for short times. Erosion is linked to the speed of ice and to water flowing under it. Here we present a model that estimates the location of water channels beneath the ice and links these locations to zones of erosion.
Maryam Zarrinderakht, Christian Schoof, and Thomas Zwinger
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-807, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-807, 2023
Preprint withdrawn
Short summary
Short summary
We used a model to study how crevasses propagate in ice shelves. Our model combines a viscous model and a fracture mechanics model. We studied periodic crevasses on an ice shelf being stretched. We show that existing models based only on stress cannot fully explain how crevasses grow and lead to iceberg calving. This model can be a useful tool to train a low-dimensional representation calving law for an ice sheet model.
Abolfazl Rezaei, Khalil Karami, Simone Tilmes, and John C. Moore
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 5835–5850, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-5835-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-5835-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Teleconnection patterns are important characteristics of the climate system; well-known examples include the El Niño and La Niña events driven from the tropical Pacific. We examined how spatiotemporal patterns that arise in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans behave under stratospheric aerosol geoengineering and greenhouse gas (GHG)-induced warming. In general, geoengineering reverses trends; however, the changes in decadal oscillation for the AMO, NAO, and PDO imposed by GHG are not suppressed.
Daniele Visioni, Ben Kravitz, Alan Robock, Simone Tilmes, Jim Haywood, Olivier Boucher, Mark Lawrence, Peter Irvine, Ulrike Niemeier, Lili Xia, Gabriel Chiodo, Chris Lennard, Shingo Watanabe, John C. Moore, and Helene Muri
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 5149–5176, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-5149-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-5149-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Geoengineering indicates methods aiming to reduce the temperature of the planet by means of reflecting back a part of the incoming radiation before it reaches the surface or allowing more of the planetary radiation to escape into space. It aims to produce modelling experiments that are easy to reproduce and compare with different climate models, in order to understand the potential impacts of these techniques. Here we assess its past successes and failures and talk about its future.
Yangxin Chen, Duoying Ji, Qian Zhang, John C. Moore, Olivier Boucher, Andy Jones, Thibaut Lurton, Michael J. Mills, Ulrike Niemeier, Roland Séférian, and Simone Tilmes
Earth Syst. Dynam., 14, 55–79, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-14-55-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-14-55-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Solar geoengineering has been proposed as a way of counteracting the warming effects of increasing greenhouse gases by reflecting solar radiation. This work shows that solar geoengineering can slow down the northern-high-latitude permafrost degradation but cannot preserve the permafrost ecosystem as that under a climate of the same warming level without solar geoengineering.
Aobo Liu, John C. Moore, and Yating Chen
Earth Syst. Dynam., 14, 39–53, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-14-39-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-14-39-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Permafrost thaws and releases carbon (C) as the Arctic warms. Most earth system models (ESMs) have poor estimates of C stored now, so their future C losses are much lower than using the permafrost C model with climate inputs from six ESMs. Bias-corrected soil temperatures and plant productivity plus geoengineering lowering global temperatures from a no-mitigation baseline scenario to a moderate emissions level keep C in the soil worth about USD 0–70 (mean 20) trillion in climate damages by 2100.
Jun Wang, John C. Moore, Liyun Zhao, Chao Yue, and Zhenhua Di
Earth Syst. Dynam., 13, 1625–1640, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-13-1625-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-13-1625-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We examine how geoengineering using aerosols in the atmosphere might impact urban climate in the greater Beijing region containing over 50 million people. Climate models have too coarse resolutions to resolve regional variations well, so we compare two workarounds for this – an expensive physical model and a cheaper statistical method. The statistical method generally gives a reasonable representation of climate and has limited resolution and a different seasonality from the physical model.
Haoran Kang, Liyun Zhao, Michael Wolovick, and John C. Moore
The Cryosphere, 16, 3619–3633, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3619-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3619-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Basal thermal conditions are important to ice dynamics and sensitive to geothermal heat flux (GHF). We estimate basal thermal conditions of the Lambert–Amery Glacier system with six GHF maps. Recent GHFs inverted from aerial geomagnetic observations produce a larger warm-based area and match the observed subglacial lakes better than the other GHFs. The modelled basal melt rate is 10 to hundreds of millimetres per year in fast-flowing glaciers feeding the Amery Ice Shelf and smaller inland.
Douglas I. Benn, Adrian Luckman, Jan A. Åström, Anna J. Crawford, Stephen L. Cornford, Suzanne L. Bevan, Thomas Zwinger, Rupert Gladstone, Karen Alley, Erin Pettit, and Jeremy Bassis
The Cryosphere, 16, 2545–2564, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2545-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2545-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Thwaites Glacier (TG), in West Antarctica, is potentially unstable and may contribute significantly to sea-level rise as global warming continues. Using satellite data, we show that Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf, the largest remaining floating extension of TG, has started to accelerate as it fragments along a shear zone. Computer modelling does not indicate that fragmentation will lead to imminent glacier collapse, but it is clear that major, rapid, and unpredictable changes are underway.
Mengdie Xie, John C. Moore, Liyun Zhao, Michael Wolovick, and Helene Muri
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 4581–4597, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-4581-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-4581-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We use data from six Earth system models to estimate Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) changes and its drivers under four different solar geoengineering methods. Solar dimming seems relatively more effective than marine cloud brightening or stratospheric aerosol injection at reversing greenhouse-gas-driven declines in AMOC. Geoengineering-induced AMOC amelioration is due to better maintenance of air–sea temperature differences and reduced loss of Arctic summer sea ice.
Gregoire Guillet, Owen King, Mingyang Lv, Sajid Ghuffar, Douglas Benn, Duncan Quincey, and Tobias Bolch
The Cryosphere, 16, 603–623, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-603-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-603-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Surging glaciers show cyclical changes in flow behavior – between slow and fast flow – and can have drastic impacts on settlements in their vicinity.
One of the clusters of surging glaciers worldwide is High Mountain Asia (HMA).
We present an inventory of surging glaciers in HMA, identified from satellite imagery. We show that the number of surging glaciers was underestimated and that they represent 20 % of the area covered by glaciers in HMA, before discussing new physics for glacier surges.
Jan Bouke Pronk, Tobias Bolch, Owen King, Bert Wouters, and Douglas I. Benn
The Cryosphere, 15, 5577–5599, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5577-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5577-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
About 10 % of Himalayan glaciers flow directly into lakes. This study finds, using satellite imagery, that such glaciers show higher flow velocities than glaciers without ice–lake contact. In particular near the glacier tongue the impact of a lake on the glacier flow can be dramatic. The development of current and new meltwater bodies will influence the flow of an increasing number of Himalayan glaciers in the future, a scenario not currently considered in regional ice loss projections.
Chao Yue, Louise Steffensen Schmidt, Liyun Zhao, Michael Wolovick, and John C. Moore
The Cryosphere Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2021-318, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2021-318, 2021
Revised manuscript not accepted
Short summary
Short summary
We use the ice sheet model PISM to estimate Vatnajökull mass balance under solar geoengineering. We find that Stratospheric aerosol injection at the rate of 5 Tg yr−1 reduces ice cap mass loss by 4 percentage points relative to the RCP4.5 scenario. Dynamic mass loss is a significant component of mass balance, but insensitive to climate forcing.
Suzanne L. Bevan, Adrian J. Luckman, Douglas I. Benn, Susheel Adusumilli, and Anna Crawford
The Cryosphere, 15, 3317–3328, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3317-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3317-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The stability of the West Antarctic ice sheet depends on the behaviour of the fast-flowing glaciers, such as Thwaites, that connect it to the ocean. Here we show that a large ocean-melted cavity beneath Thwaites Glacier has remained stable since it first formed, implying that, in line with current theory, basal melt is now concentrated close to where the ice first goes afloat. We also show that Thwaites Glacier continues to thin and to speed up and that continued retreat is therefore likely.
Andreas Kellerer-Pirklbauer, Michael Avian, Douglas I. Benn, Felix Bernsteiner, Philipp Krisch, and Christian Ziesler
The Cryosphere, 15, 1237–1258, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1237-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1237-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Present climate warming leads to glacier recession and formation of lakes. We studied the nature and rate of lake evolution in the period 1998–2019 at Pasterze Glacier, Austria. We detected for instance several large-scale and rapidly occurring ice-breakup events from below the water level. This process, previously not reported from the European Alps, might play an important role at alpine glaciers in the future as many glaciers are expected to recede into valley basins allowing lake formation.
Rupert Gladstone, Benjamin Galton-Fenzi, David Gwyther, Qin Zhou, Tore Hattermann, Chen Zhao, Lenneke Jong, Yuwei Xia, Xiaoran Guo, Konstantinos Petrakopoulos, Thomas Zwinger, Daniel Shapero, and John Moore
Geosci. Model Dev., 14, 889–905, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-889-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-889-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Retreat of the Antarctic ice sheet, and hence its contribution to sea level rise, is highly sensitive to melting of its floating ice shelves. This melt is caused by warm ocean currents coming into contact with the ice. Computer models used for future ice sheet projections are not able to realistically evolve these melt rates. We describe a new coupling framework to enable ice sheet and ocean computer models to interact, allowing projection of the evolution of melt and its impact on sea level.
Eef C. H. van Dongen, Guillaume Jouvet, Shin Sugiyama, Evgeny A. Podolskiy, Martin Funk, Douglas I. Benn, Fabian Lindner, Andreas Bauder, Julien Seguinot, Silvan Leinss, and Fabian Walter
The Cryosphere, 15, 485–500, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-485-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-485-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The dynamic mass loss of tidewater glaciers is strongly linked to glacier calving. We study calving mechanisms under a thinning regime, based on 5 years of field and remote-sensing data of Bowdoin Glacier. Our data suggest that Bowdoin Glacier ungrounded recently, and its calving behaviour changed from calving due to surface crevasses to buoyancy-induced calving resulting from basal crevasses. This change may be a precursor to glacier retreat.
Cited articles
Albrecht, T. and Levermann, A.: Fracture-induced softening for large-scale ice dynamics, The Cryosphere Discuss., 7, 4501–4544, https://doi.org/10.5194/tcd-7-4501-2013, 2013.
Albrecht, T. and Levermann, A.: Fracture field for large-scale ice dynamics, J. Glaciol., 58, 165–176, https://doi.org/10.3189/2012JoG11J191, 2012b.
Alley, R. B.: In search of ice-stream sticky spots, J. Glaciol., 39, 447–454, 1993.
Arthern, R. J. and Gudmundsson, G. H.: Initialization of ice-sheet forecasts viewed as an inverse Robin problem, J. Glaciol., 56, 527–533, 2010.
Åström, J. A.: Statistical models of brittle fragmentation, Adv. Phys., 55, 247–278, 2006.
Åström, J. A., Ouchterlony, F., Linna, R. P., and Timonen, J.: Universal dynamic fragmentation in D dimensions, Phys. Rev. Lett., 92, 245506, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.92.245506, 2004.
\AA ström, J. A., von Alfthan, S., Sunil Kumar, P. B., and Karttunen, M.: Myosin motor mediated contraction is enough to produce cytokinesis in the absence of polymerisation, Soft Matter, 6, 5375, https://doi.org/10.1039/C0SM00134A, 2010.
\AA ström, J. A., Sunil Kumar, P. B., and Karttunen, M.: Stiffness transition in anisotropic fiber nets, Phys. Rev. E, 86, 021922, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.86.021922, 2012.
Bassis, J. N.: The statistical physics of iceberg calving and the emergence of universal calving laws, J. Glaciol, 57, 3–16, 2011.
Bassis, J. N. and Walker, C. C.: Upper and lower limits on the stability of calving glaciers from the yield strength envelope of ice, Proc. R. Soc. A, 468, 913–931, https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.2011.0422, 2012.
Benn, D. I., Hulton, N. R. J., and Mottram, R. H.: "Calving laws", "sliding laws" and the stability of tidewater glaciers, Ann. Glaciol., 46, 123–130, 2007a.
Benn, D. I., Warren, C. R., and Mottram, R. H.: Calving processes and the dynamics of calving glaciers, Earth Sci. Rev., 82, 143–179, 2007b.
Borstad, C. P., Khazendar, A., Larour, E., Morlighem, M., Rignot, E., Schodlok, M. P., and Seroussi, H.: A damage mechanics assessment of the Larsen B ice shelf prior to collapse: towards a physically based calving law, Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L18502, https://doi.org/10.1029/2012GL053317, 2012.
Burgess, D. O., Sharp, M. J., Mair, D. W. F., Dowdeswell, J. A., and Benham, T. J.: Flow dynamics and iceberg calving rates of Devon Ice Cap, Nunavut, Canada, J. Glaciol., 51, 219–230, 2005.
Crocker, G. B.: Size distributions of bergy bits and growlers calved from deteriorating icebergs, Cold. Reg. Sci. Technol., 22, 113–119, 1993.
Cuffey, K. M. and Paterson, W. S. B.: The Physics of Glaciers, 4th Edn., Academic Press, 704 pp., 2010.
Cundall, P. A. and Strack, O.: A discrete numerical model for granular assemblies, Geotechnique, 29, 47–65, 1979.
Dowdeswell, J. A. and Forsberg, J. A.: The size and frequency of icebergs and bergy bits derived from tidewater glaciers in Kongsfjorden, northwest Spitsbergen, Polar Res., 11, 81–91, 1992.
Dowdeswell, J. A., Benham, T. J., Strozzi, T., and Hagen, J. O.: Iceberg calving flux and mass balance of the Austfonna ice cap on Nordaustlandet, Svalbard, J. Geophys. Res., 113, F03022, https://doi.org/10.1029/2007JF000905, 2008.
Gagliardini, O. and Zwinger, T.: The ISMIP-HOM benchmark experiments performed using the Finite-Element code Elmer, The Cryosphere, 2, 67–76, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2-67-2008, 2008.
Gethin, D. T., Ransing, R. S., Lewis, R. W., and Dutko, M.: Numerical comparison of a deformable discrete element model and an equivalent continuum analysis for the compaction of ductile porous material, Comput. Struct., 79, 1287–1294, 2001.
Huang, N., Ovarlez, G., Bertrand, F., Rodts, S., Coussot, P., and Bonn, D.: Flow of Wet Granular Materials, Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 028301, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.94.028301, 2005.
Jacob, T., Wahr, J., Pfeffer, W. T., and Swenson, S.: Recent contributions of glaciers and ice caps to sea level rise, Nature, 482, 514–518, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature10847, 2012.
Jay-Allemand, M., Gillet-Chaulet, F., Gagliardini, O., and Nodet, M.: Investigating changes in basal conditions of Variegated Glacier prior to and during its 1982–1983 surge, The Cryosphere, 5, 659–672, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-659-2011, 2011.
Jing, L.: Formulation of discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA)- an implicit discrete element model for block systems, Eng. Geol., 49, 371–381, 1998.
Johari, G. P., Pascheto, W., and Jones, S. J.: Anelasticity and grain boundary relaxation of ice at high temperatures, J. Phys. D Appl. Phys., 28, 112, https://doi.org/10.1088/0022-3727/28/1/018, 1995.
Jouvet, G. and Rappaz, J.: Analysis and finite element approximation of a nonlinear stationary Stokes problem arising in glaciology, Adv. Numer. Anal., 2011, 164581, https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/164581, 2011.
Jouvet, G., Picasso, M., Rappaz, J., Huss, M., and Funk, M.: Modelling and numerical simulation of the dynamics of glaciers including local damage effects, Math. Model. Nat. Phenom., 6, 263–280, https://doi.org/10.1051/mmnp/20116510, 2011.
Kekäläinen, P., Åström, J. A., and Timonen, J.: Solution for the fragment-size distribution in crack-branching model of fragmentation, Phys. Rev. E, 76, 026112, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.76.026112, 2007.
Levermann, A., Albrecht, T., Winkelmann, R., Martin, M. A., Haseloff, M., and Joughin, I.: Kinematic first-order calving law implies potential for abrupt ice-shelf retreat, The Cryosphere, 6, 273–286, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-6-273-2012, 2012.
Monaghan, J. J.: Smoothed particle hydrodynamics, Ann. Rev. Astro. Astrophys., 30, 543–574, 1992.
Monaghan, J. J.: Smoothed particle hydrodynamics, Rep. Prog. Phys., 68, 1703–1759, 2005.
Morlighem, M., Rignot, E., Seroussi, H., Larour, E., Dhia, H. B., and Aubry, D.: Spatial patterns of basal drag inferred using control methods from a full-Stokes and simpler models for Pine Island Glacier, West Antarctica, Geophys. Res. Lett., 37, L14502, https://doi.org/10.1029/2006JF000576, 2010.
Nick, F. M., van der Veen, C. J., Vieli, A., and Benn, D. I.: A physically based calving model applied to marine outlet glaciers and implications for their dynamics, J. Glaciol., 56, 781–794, 2010.
Petra, N., Zhu H., Stadler, G., Hughes, T. J. R., and Ghattas, O.: An inexact Gauss–Newton method for inversion of basal sliding and rheology parameters in a nonlinear Stokes ice sheet model, J. Glaciol., 58, 889–903, 2012.
Potyondy, D. O. and Cundall, P. A.: A bonded-particle model for rock, Int. J. Rock Mech. Min., 41, 1329–1364, 2004.
Raymond, M. J. and Gudmundsson, G. H.: Estimating basal properties of ice streams from surface measurements: a nonlinear Bayesian inverse approach applied to synthetic data, The Cryosphere, 3, 265–278, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-3-265-2009, 2009.
Reiner, M.: "The Deborah Number", Physics Today, 17, 62, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3051374, 1964.
Riikilä, T., Åström, J., Tallinen, T., Zwinger, T., Benn, D., Moore, J., and Timonen, J.: Discrete element model for viscoelastic materials with fracture, in preparation, 2013.
Rignot, E., Mouginot, J., and Scheuchl, B.: Ice flow of the Antarctic ice sheet, Science, 333, 1427–1430, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1208336, 2011.
Savage, S. B., Crocker, G. B., Sayed, M., and Carriers, T.: Cold. Reg. Sci. Technol., 31, 163–172, 2000.
Schäfer, M., Zwinger, T., Christoffersen, P., Gillet-Chaulet, F., Laakso, K., Pettersson, R., Pohjola, V. A., Strozzi, T., and Moore, J. C.: Sensitivity of basal conditions in an inverse model: Vestfonna ice cap, Nordaustlandet/Svalbard, The Cryosphere, 6, 771–783, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-6-771-2012, 2012.
Schoof, C.: Coulomb friction and other sliding laws in a higher order glacier flow model, Math. Model. Meth. Appl. Sci., 20, 157–189, 2009.
Schulson, E. M.: The structure and mechanical behaviour of ice, JOM, 51, 21–27, 1999.
Schulson, E. M.: Brittle failure of ice, Eng. Fract. Mech., 68, 1839–1887, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-7944(01)00037-6, 2001.
Thomas, R. H., Rignot, E. J., Kanagaratnam, K., Krabill, W. B., and Casassa, G.: Force-perturbation analysis of Pine Island Glacier, Antarctica, suggests cause for recent acceleration, Ann. Glaciol., 39, 133–138, https://doi.org/10.3189/172756404781814429, 2004.
Timar, G., Blomer, J., Kun, F., and Herrmann, H. J.: New universality class for the fragmentation of plastic materials, Phys. Rev. Lett., 104, 095502, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.095502, 2010.
Vaughan, D. G.: Tidal flexure at ice margins, J. Geophys. Res., 100, 6213–6224, https://doi.org/10.1029/94JB02467, 1995.
Vieli, A., Payne, A. J., Du, A., and Shepherd, A.: Numerical modelling and data assimilation of Larsen B ice shelf, Antarctic Peninsula, Philos. T. Roy. Soc. A, 364, 1815–1839, 2006.
Walter, F., O'Neel, S., McNamara, D., Pfeffer, W. T., Bassis, J. N., and Fricker, H. A.: Iceberg calving during transition from grounded to floating ice: Columbia Glacier, Alaska, Geophys. Res. Lett., 37, L15501, https://doi.org/10.1029/2010GL043201, 2010.
Weertman, J.: Depth of water-filled crevasses that are closely spaced, J. Glaciol., 13, 544–544, 1974.
Weertman, J.: Bottom crevasses, J. Glaciol., 25, 185–188, https://doi.org/10.1029/JB089iB03p01925, 1980,
Zhang, Z. F. and Eckert, J.: Unified Tensile Fracture Criterion, Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 094301, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.94.094301, 2005.
Zwinger, T. and Moore, J. C.: Diagnostic and prognostic simulations with a full Stokes model accounting for superimposed ice of Midtre Lovénbreen, Svalbard, The Cryosphere, 3, 217–229, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-3-217-2009, 2009.