Glaciology Ice Modeling

Ice modeling is concerned with the dynamics and stability of ice sheets, ice shelves and glaciers in Greenland and Antarctica. This field of research focuses on ice mechanics, to model polar ice masses, and the interaction between ice and the climate system: How fast do the ice sheets react on climate change? What is the role of subglacial water for sliding of ice on ground? The future contribution of ice sheets to sea level change is one of the key questions, which we study using simulations. Here we aim to reduce the uncertainties of ice models.

Working Area

Ice sheets of Antarctic and Greenland, and their ice streams and outlet glaciers, as well as ice shelves

Methods

We use and develop thermomechanical models, e.g. in viscolelastic rheology, of ice masses. These boundary value problems are solved numerically. These ice models are extended by hydrological models that simulate the effect of melt water on ice sheets. In collaboration with observational glaciology, we work on the representation of glaciological processes and assess current changes of polar ice masses.