Combining damage and fracture mechanics to model calving

Krug, Jean; Weiss, Jérôme; Gagliardini, Olivier; Durand, Gaël

doi:10.5194/tc-8-2101-2014

Cited by 99 publications

(164 citation statements)

References 58 publications

(95 reference statements)

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“…In turn, this means that calving laws also need to be simple and easy to implement. The calving laws currently in use either predict calving location based on theoretical crevasse penetration depths or yield criteria [74][75][76][77][78] or predict calving rates from empirical functions (e.g. [28,29]).…”

Section: Modellingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Glacier Calving in Greenland

Benn

Cowton

Todd

et al. 2017

Curr Clim Change Rep

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In combination, the breakaway of icebergs (calving) and submarine melting at marine-terminating glaciers account for between one third and one half of the mass annually discharged from the Greenland Ice Sheet into the ocean. These ice losses are increasing due to glacier acceleration and retreat, largely in response to increased heat flux from the oceans. Behaviour of Greenland's marine-terminating ('tidewater') glaciers is strongly influenced by fjord bathymetry, particularly the presence of 'pinning points' (narrow or shallow parts of fjords that encourage stability) and overdeepened basins (that encourage rapid retreat). Despite the importance of calving and submarine melting and significant advances in monitoring and understanding key processes, it is not yet possible to predict the tidewater glacier response to climatic and oceanic forcing with any confidence. The simple calving laws required for ice-sheet models do not adequately represent the complexity of calving processes. New detailed process models, however, are increasing our understanding of the key processes and are guiding the design of improved calving laws. There is thus some prospect of reaching the elusive goal of accurately predicting future tidewater glacier behaviour and associated rates of sea-level rise.

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Section: Modellingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Glacier Calving in Greenland

Benn

Cowton

Todd

et al. 2017

Curr Clim Change Rep

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“…The model summarized here is described in detail in Krug et al (2014) (along with all sensitivity tests) and implemented in the finite element open-source model Elmer/Ice (see Gagliardini et al, 2013).…”

Section: Damage and Calving Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling the impact of submarine frontal melting and ice mélange on glacier dynamics

et al. 2015

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Abstract. Submarine melting of the calving face of tidewater glaciers and the mechanical back force applied by the ice mélange layer are two mechanisms generally proposed to explain seasonal variations at the calving front of tidewater glaciers. However, the way these processes affect the calving rate and glacier dynamics remains uncertain. In this study, we used a finite element-based model that solves the full Stokes equations to simulate the impact of these forcings on two-dimensional theoretical flow line glacier configurations. The model, which includes calving processes, suggests that frontal melting affects the position of the terminus only slightly (less than a few hundred metres) and does not affect the multiannual glacier mass balance at all. However, the ice mélange has a greater impact on the advance and retreat cycles of the glacier front (more than several kilometres) and its consequences for the mass balance are not completely negligible, stressing the need for better characterization of forcing properties. We also show that ice mélange forcing against the calving face can mechanically prevent crevasse propagation at sea level and hence prevent calving. Results also reveal different behaviours in grounded and floating glaciers: in the case of a floating extension, the strongest forcings can disrupt the glacier equilibrium by modifying its buttressing and ice flux at the grounding line.

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“…In previous modelling work ( Van der Veen, 2002;Benn et al, 2007;Amundson and Truffer, 2010;Nick et al, 2010;Cook et al, 2012;Krug et al, 2014Krug et al, , 2015, the dynamics of ice masses have been simulated using continuum models, in which the continuum space is discretised and includes processes of mass and energy balance. In addition to the lack of process understanding, continuum models cannot explicitly model fracture but must use simple parameterisations such as damage variables or phenomenological calving criteria.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of undercutting and sliding on calving: a global approach applied to Kronebreen, Svalbard

et al. 2018

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Abstract. In this paper, we study the effects of basal friction, sub-aqueous undercutting and glacier geometry on the calving process by combining six different models in an offlinecoupled workflow: a continuum-mechanical ice flow model (Elmer/Ice), a climatic mass balance model, a simple subglacial hydrology model, a plume model, an undercutting model and a discrete particle model to investigate fracture dynamics (Helsinki Discrete Element Model, HiDEM). We demonstrate the feasibility of reproducing the observed calving retreat at the front of Kronebreen, a tidewater glacier in Svalbard, during a melt season by using the output from the first five models as input to HiDEM. Basal sliding and glacier motion are addressed using Elmer/Ice, while calving is modelled by HiDEM. A hydrology model calculates subglacial drainage paths and indicates two main outlets with different discharges. Depending on the discharge, the plume model computes frontal melt rates, which are iteratively projected to the actual front of the glacier at subglacial discharge locations. This produces undercutting of different sizes, as melt is concentrated close to the surface for high discharge and is more diffuse for low discharge. By testing different configurations, we show that undercutting plays a key role in glacier retreat and is necessary to reproduce observed retreat in the vicinity of the discharge locations during the melting season. Calving rates are also influenced by basal friction, through its effects on near-terminus strain rates and ice velocity.

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Combining damage and fracture mechanics to model calving

Cited by 99 publications

References 58 publications

Glacier Calving in Greenland

Glacier Calving in Greenland

Modelling the impact of submarine frontal melting and ice mélange on glacier dynamics

Effects of undercutting and sliding on calving: a global approach applied to Kronebreen, Svalbard

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