Ice-sheet model

They are used for a variety of purposes, from studies of the glaciation of Earth over glacial–interglacial cycles in the past to projections of ice-sheet decay under future global warming conditions.

[1] In 1988, the first thermodynamically coupled model incorporating ice-shelves, sheet/shelf transition, membrane stress gradients, isostatic bed adjustment and basal sliding using more advanced numerical techniques was developed and applied to the Antarctic ice sheet.

[1] When the first IPCC assessment report came out in 1990, ice sheets were not an active part of the climate system model, their evolution was based on a correlation between global temperature and surface mass balance.

[1][3] The EISMINT produced several workshops throughout the 1990s of an international collaboration, comparing most models of Greenland, Antarctic, ice-shelf, thermomechanical and grounding-line.

[3] The 2000s included integrating first-order approximation of full Stokes Dynamics into an ice-sheet model.

[4] The project allowed for both improvement in numerical and physical approaches to ice sheets.

[6] The approximation is best applied to ice sheet with a small depth-to-width ratio, without many sliding dynamics and a simple bed topography.

[8] The model assumes that ice sheets are mostly split up by basal sheer stress, and it is not necessary to consider the other forces.

[6] As these equations are computationally expensive, it is important to include many approximations to reduce running time.

[6] Because of their computational expense, they are not easily used at a large scale and can be used in specific sections or scenarios, such as at grounding lines.

[15] Basal Conditions play an important role in determining the behavior of ice sheets.

[15] Summer Insolation drive temperature responses that have an effect on the rate of melting and mass balance of the ice sheet.

[16] Air Temperature is needed in a model as it informs surface melt and runoff rates.

[17] Precipitation is directly tied to air temperature, and also depends on moisture above and around the ice sheet.

[24] The project sets out to develop a set of experiments and assessments for ice sheet and sea level rise modelling, as well as make a unified input dataset for ice sheet models.

[28] A horizontal grid of equal distance is used, with a variable vertical axis, and runs on a year timescale.