Seminar by Henning Åkesson, Post-doctoral researcher, Department of Geological Studies, Stockholm University, Sweden.
"Diverse responses to a warming ocean controlled by basal friction at Petermann Glacier, Northern Greenland"
Abstract:
Basal friction is an important control on fast-flowing glaciers. However, the best approach to modeling basal friction is unclear, which adds considerable uncertainty to projections of future mass loss and sea-level rise. Here we compare four friction laws suitable for ice flow over till and evaluate them for Petermann Glacier, northwest Greenland, using a higher-order three-dimensional ice-sheet model. We model future glacier retreat and mass loss in response to ocean warming towards year 2300. Regardless of the friction law, we find that Petermann's ice shelf is likely to break up within the next decades. Future grounding-line retreat differs by 10s of km and estimates of sea-level rise may double, depending on the friction law employed. A bedrock ridge halts the retreat for three of the friction laws, while Petermann retreats furthest inland when applying a Budd law, and contributes 6.3 mm to sea-level rise by 2300 in a 2 C-warming scenario.
About the seminar:
This seminar is offered by the Section for Geography and Hydrology, Dept. of Geosciences, University of Oslo. The GEOHYD-seminars are announced as lunch seminars so bring your lunch if you want to.
The seminars are open for everyone interested, and especially students are welcome.
The Lunch Seminar Team
– Désirée and Sigrid