Coupled 3-D full-Stokes modelling of tidewater glaciers

Citation

Cook SJ, Christoffersen P & Wheel I (2022) Coupled 3-D full-Stokes modelling of tidewater glaciers. Annals of Glaciology, 63 (87-89), pp. 23-26. https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2023.4

Abstract
Tidewater glaciers are an important and difficult part of the cryosphere to study owing to their complex nature and often inaccessible and physically challenging environments. The interaction of glacier and fjord processes furthermore presents particular observational challenges. Modelling provides a possible solution to these issues, but, at the glacier scale, the processual complexities require a 3-D full-Stokes approach that is computationally expensive. Additionally, the lack of data for model validation or constraints imposes further obstacles. Despite this, progress on modelling such glaciers with explicit inclusion of all relevant processes is being made. The key remaining challenges are including more realistic representations of calving and coupling 3-D glacier modelling with 3-D fjord circulation modelling to allow inclusion of the effect of cross-fjord circulation. We are confident, however, that these issues can be resolved and will be resolved over the next decade.

Keywords
Glacier calving; glacier hydrology; glacier modelling; ice/ocean interaction

Journal
Annals of Glaciology: Volume 63, Issue 87-89

• Published Version