Numerical Modeling of Ice-Shelf Motion

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Abstract
Finite-element simulations of the Ross Ice Shelf flow yield good qualitative agreement with observation, but velocity magnitudes tend to be too low up-stream of ice rises and too high near the ice front. These errors will be significantly reduced by better model convergence to the flow law, more accurate values of the flow-law parameters, better resolution of the ice streams, and inclusion of subgrid scale stress variability produced by crevassing and ice-fabric orientation. A model run featuring a hypothetical ice rise down-stream of Crary Ice Rise indicates that the distinctive strain-rate patterns produced by an isolated ice rise can be cancelled by neighboring ice rises. This suggests that an isolated ice rise might migrate up-stream along sea-bed ridges unless there are neighboring ice rises acting to stabilize the surrounding ice-thickness tendencies.