Basal conditions directly control the glacier sliding rate and the dynamic discharge of ice. Recent glacier destabilization events indicate that some marine-terminating glaciers quickly respond to lubricated beds with increased flow speed, but the underlying physics, especially how this vulnerability relates to glacier geometry and flow characteristics, remains unclear.
This paper presents a 1D physical framework for glacier dynamic vulnerability assuming sudden basal lubrication as an initial perturbation. Glaciers with lower Pe and J 0 are more likely to accelerate during this year span than those with higher Pe and J 0 , which matches the model prediction.
(mh=2V_U6XrF7AY95Kj6)9.jpg "Prostitutes Moulins")
A combined factor of ice thickness, surface slope, and initial flow speed physically determines how much and how fast glaciers respond to lubricated beds in terms of speed, elevation, and terminus change. Zheng, W. Marine-terminating glaciers worldwide have undergone significant acceleration, retreat, and mass loss in past decades e.
For the other Arctic regions outside of the GrIS, surface mass balance contributes more mass loss than dynamic discharge Catania et al. The acceleration and dynamic thinning of marine-terminating glaciers have been attributed to at least two sources: basal lubrication driven by surface melt accessing the bed, and terminus perturbation driven by iceβocean interactions Carr et al. Multiple observations suggest the warming of subsurface ocean waters as the primary and widespread driver across the outlet glaciers in the GrIS e.
As a result, models of glacier dynamic loss for estimating sea-level rise usually focus on the glacier terminus and overlook the changing basal conditions e. Outside of the GrIS, the primary drivers of the dynamic ice loss remain largely uncertain Carr et al. To date, the response to basal lubrication is mostly studied on a seasonal scale, which links to changing subglacial hydrology within a year e. However, there have been concerns and observations that the bed conditions can evolve and affect glacier dynamics over multiple years.
