A Mathematical Model of Melt Lake Development on an Ice Shelf
Abstract The accumulation of surface meltwater on ice shelves can lead to the formation of melt lakes. Melt lakes have been implicated in ice shelf collapse; Antarctica's Larsen B Ice Shelf was observed to have a large amount of surface melt lakes present preceding its collapse in 2002. Such co...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
2018-02-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/2017MS001155 |
| _version_ | 1817993441971273728 |
|---|---|
| author | S. C. Buzzard D. L. Feltham D. Flocco |
| author_facet | S. C. Buzzard D. L. Feltham D. Flocco |
| author_sort | S. C. Buzzard |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The accumulation of surface meltwater on ice shelves can lead to the formation of melt lakes. Melt lakes have been implicated in ice shelf collapse; Antarctica's Larsen B Ice Shelf was observed to have a large amount of surface melt lakes present preceding its collapse in 2002. Such collapse can affect ocean circulation and temperature, cause habitat loss and contribute to sea level rise through the acceleration of tributary glaciers. We present a mathematical model of a surface melt lake on an idealized ice shelf. The model incorporates a calculation of the ice shelf surface energy balance, heat transfer through the firn, the production and percolation of meltwater into the firn, the formation of ice lenses, and the development and refreezing of surface melt lakes. The model is applied to the Larsen C Ice Shelf, where melt lakes have been observed. This region has warmed several times the global average over the last century and the Larsen C firn layer could become saturated with meltwater by the end of the century. When forced with weather station data, our model produces surface melting, meltwater accumulation, and melt lake development consistent with observations. We examine the sensitivity of lake formation to uncertain parameters and provide evidence of the importance of processes such as lateral meltwater transport. We conclude that melt lakes impact surface melt and firn density and warrant inclusion in dynamic‐thermodynamic models of ice shelf evolution within climate models, of which our model could form the basis for the thermodynamic component. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T01:39:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e6c37f1b2a3141439d8eab32859ba321 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1942-2466 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T01:39:01Z |
| publishDate | 2018-02-01 |
| publisher | American Geophysical Union (AGU) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems |
| spelling | doaj.art-e6c37f1b2a3141439d8eab32859ba3212022-12-22T02:19:50ZengAmerican Geophysical Union (AGU)Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems1942-24662018-02-0110226228310.1002/2017MS001155A Mathematical Model of Melt Lake Development on an Ice ShelfS. C. Buzzard0D. L. Feltham1D. Flocco2Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling, Department of MeteorologyUniversity of ReadingReading UKCentre for Polar Observation and Modelling, Department of MeteorologyUniversity of ReadingReading UKCentre for Polar Observation and Modelling, Department of MeteorologyUniversity of ReadingReading UKAbstract The accumulation of surface meltwater on ice shelves can lead to the formation of melt lakes. Melt lakes have been implicated in ice shelf collapse; Antarctica's Larsen B Ice Shelf was observed to have a large amount of surface melt lakes present preceding its collapse in 2002. Such collapse can affect ocean circulation and temperature, cause habitat loss and contribute to sea level rise through the acceleration of tributary glaciers. We present a mathematical model of a surface melt lake on an idealized ice shelf. The model incorporates a calculation of the ice shelf surface energy balance, heat transfer through the firn, the production and percolation of meltwater into the firn, the formation of ice lenses, and the development and refreezing of surface melt lakes. The model is applied to the Larsen C Ice Shelf, where melt lakes have been observed. This region has warmed several times the global average over the last century and the Larsen C firn layer could become saturated with meltwater by the end of the century. When forced with weather station data, our model produces surface melting, meltwater accumulation, and melt lake development consistent with observations. We examine the sensitivity of lake formation to uncertain parameters and provide evidence of the importance of processes such as lateral meltwater transport. We conclude that melt lakes impact surface melt and firn density and warrant inclusion in dynamic‐thermodynamic models of ice shelf evolution within climate models, of which our model could form the basis for the thermodynamic component.https://doi.org/10.1002/2017MS001155ice shelfmodelmelt lakemathematical model |
| spellingShingle | S. C. Buzzard D. L. Feltham D. Flocco A Mathematical Model of Melt Lake Development on an Ice Shelf Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems ice shelf model melt lake mathematical model |
| title | A Mathematical Model of Melt Lake Development on an Ice Shelf |
| title_full | A Mathematical Model of Melt Lake Development on an Ice Shelf |
| title_fullStr | A Mathematical Model of Melt Lake Development on an Ice Shelf |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Mathematical Model of Melt Lake Development on an Ice Shelf |
| title_short | A Mathematical Model of Melt Lake Development on an Ice Shelf |
| title_sort | mathematical model of melt lake development on an ice shelf |
| topic | ice shelf model melt lake mathematical model |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/2017MS001155 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT scbuzzard amathematicalmodelofmeltlakedevelopmentonaniceshelf AT dlfeltham amathematicalmodelofmeltlakedevelopmentonaniceshelf AT dflocco amathematicalmodelofmeltlakedevelopmentonaniceshelf AT scbuzzard mathematicalmodelofmeltlakedevelopmentonaniceshelf AT dlfeltham mathematicalmodelofmeltlakedevelopmentonaniceshelf AT dflocco mathematicalmodelofmeltlakedevelopmentonaniceshelf |