Numerical Simulation of the Evolution of Ice Covers Using the Scandinavian and Laurentide Ice Sheets as Examples

Abstract

AbstractA non-linear parabolic equation describing the evolution of an isothermal linearly viscous ice sheet is numerically solved in non-dimensional coordinates obtained by normalization over the horizontal size of a glacier. The horizontal size of the ice sheet is defined from the solution of an ordinary differential equation, the integral mass balance. For simple climate models, approximate relations describing the evolution of glaciers are proposed. These relations and palaeogeographical data are used to estimate changes in the mass balance on the surface of the Scandinavian and Laurentide ice sheets during retreat of the last glaciation.