Calibration of a higher-order 3-D ice-flow model of the Morteratsch glacier complex, Engadin, Switzerland
Zekollari H, Huybrechts P, Fürst J, Rybak O, Eisen O (2013)
Publication Language: English
Publication Status: Published
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2013
Journal
Publisher: CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS
Book Volume: 54
Pages Range: 343-351
Journal Issue: 63
Abstract
We have reconstructed the ice thickness distribution of the Morteratsch glacier complex, Switzerland, and used this to simulate its flow with a higher-order 3-D model. Ice thickness was measured along transects with a ground-penetrating radar and further extended over the entire glacier using the plastic flow assumption and a distance-weighted interpolation technique. We find a maximum ice thickness of 350 +/- 52.5 m for the central trunk of Vadret da Morteratsch, resulting from a bedrock overdeepening. The average thickness of the glacier complex is 72.2 +/- 18.0 m, which corresponds to a total ice volume of 1.14 +/- 0.28 km(3). The flow of the glacier is modelled by tuning the rate factor and the sliding parameters taking into account higher-order terms in the force balance. The observed velocities can be reproduced closely (root-mean-square error of 15.0 m a(-1), R-2 = 0.93) by adopting a sliding factor of 12 x 10(-16) m(7) N-3 a(-1) and a rate factor of 1.6 x 10(-16) Pa-3 a(-1). In this setting, ice deformation accounts for 70% of the surface velocity and basal sliding for the remaining 30%. The modelled velocity field reaches values up to 125 m a(-1), but also indicates an almost stagnant front and confluence area, which are crucial for understanding the ongoing glacier retreat.
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APA:
Zekollari, H., Huybrechts, P., Fürst, J., Rybak, O., & Eisen, O. (2013). Calibration of a higher-order 3-D ice-flow model of the Morteratsch glacier complex, Engadin, Switzerland. Annals of Glaciology, 54(63), 343-351. https://dx.doi.org/10.3189/2013AoG63A434
MLA:
Zekollari, Harry, et al. "Calibration of a higher-order 3-D ice-flow model of the Morteratsch glacier complex, Engadin, Switzerland." Annals of Glaciology 54.63 (2013): 343-351.
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