Polar and Alpine Events Calendar
The oceanic connections between glaciers and continental shelf waters are modulated and controlled by geometrically complex fjords and ice-shelf cavities. Fjords and ice-shelf cavities both exhibit overturning circulations and horizontal recirculations, driven by a combination of water mass transformation near the glacier, variability on the continental shelf, and atmospheric forcing. However, it remains unclear which geometric and forcing parameters are the most important in exerting control on the overturning and horizontal recirculation strength.
I will present two sets of idealized numerical simulations (and accompanying supporting theories) using an isopycnal model of: (1) a stand-alone ice-shelf cavity and (2) a fjord connected to a continental shelf, which are representative of those found in Greenland and Antarctica. A range of sensitivity experiments are performed and find that sill height, wind direction/strength, subglacial discharge strength, and depth of offshore warm water are of first-order importance to the overturning circulation, while fjord/cavity width is also first-order important to the horizontal recirculation. A simple vorticity budget is also developed and tested to assess the strength of the horizontal recirculation, which provides a scaling in terms of the overturning circulation and bottom friction. Based on these theories, we are able to make a priori predictions of glacial melt rates that take into account the overturning and recirculation and may be used to refine estimates of ocean-driven melting of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets.
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Hi there,
You are invited to a Zoom meeting.
When: May 7, 2020 02:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
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