Coupled 3-D full-Stokes modelling of tidewater glaciers

Tidewater glaciers are an important and difficult part of the cryosphere to study owing to their complex nature and often inaccessible and physically challenging environments. The interaction of glacier and fjord processes furthermore presents particular observational challenges. Modelling provides a possible solution to these issues, but, at the glacier scale, the processual complexities require a 3-D full-Stokes approach that is computationally expensive. Additionally, the lack of data for model validation or constraints imposes further obstacles. Despite this, progress on modelling such glaciers with explicit inclusion of all relevant processes is being made. The key remaining challenges are including more realistic representations of calving and coupling 3-D glacier modelling with 3-D fjord circulation modelling to allow inclusion of the effect of cross-fjord circulation. We are confident, however, that these issues can be resolved and will be resolved over the next decade.

Automated summary

Tidewater glaciers are complex and challenging to study due to their nature and inaccessible environments. Modelling is a possible solution, but the complexities require computationally expensive methods. Lack of data for validation is another obstacle. However, progress is being made in modelling these glaciers to include all relevant processes. The key challenges remaining are more realistic representations of calving and coupling glacier modelling with fjord circulation modelling.