On the interpretation of ice-shelf flexure measurements

Rosier, Sebastian, Marsh, Oliver J., Rack, Wolfgang, Gudmundsson, Hilmar, Wild, Christian T. and Ryan, Michelle (2017) On the interpretation of ice-shelf flexure measurements. Journal of Glaciology, 63 (241). pp. 783-791. ISSN 0022-1430

[img]
Preview
Text (Full text)
Rosier et al - On the interpretation of ice-shelf flexure measurements OA.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.

Download (607kB) | Preview
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/jog.2017.44

Abstract

Tidal flexure in ice shelf grounding zones has been used extensively in the past to determine grounding line position and ice properties. Although the rheology of ice is viscoelastic at tidal loading frequencies, most modelling studies have assumed some form of linear elastic beam approximation to match observed flexure profiles. Here we use density, radar and DInSAR measurements in combination with full-Stokes viscoelastic modelling to investigate a range of additional controls on the flexure of the Southern McMurdo Ice Shelf. We find that inclusion of observed basal crevasses and density dependent ice stiffness can greatly alter the flexure profile and yet fitting a simple elastic beam model to that profile will still produce an excellent fit. Estimates of the effective Young's modulus derived by fitting flexure profiles are shown to vary by over 200% depending on whether these factors are included, even when the local thickness is well constrained. Conversely, estimates of the grounding line position are relatively insensitive to these considerations for the case of a steep bed slope in our study region. By fitting tidal amplitudes only, and ignoring phase information, elastic beam theory can provide a good fit to observations in a wide variety of situations. This should, however, not be taken as an indication that the underlying rheological assumptions are correct.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: ice/ocean interactions, ice rheology, ice-sheet modelling, ice shelves
Subjects: F800 Physical and Terrestrial Geographical and Environmental Sciences
Department: Faculties > Engineering and Environment > Geography and Environmental Sciences
Depositing User: Paul Burns
Date Deposited: 15 Jun 2018 10:44
Last Modified: 01 Aug 2021 08:04
URI: http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/34562

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics