Dynamics of Ice Sheets and Glaciers

Based on general continuum mechanics, the different initial-boundary-value problems for the flow of ice sheets, ice shelves, ice caps and glaciers are systematically derived. Emphasis is put on developing approximation hierarchies for the different systems.

Dynamics of Ice Sheets and Glaciers presents an introduction to the dynamics and thermodynamics of flowing ice masses on Earth. Based on an outline of general continuum mechanics, the different initial-boundary-value problems for the flow of ice sheets, ice shelves, ice caps and glaciers are systematically derived. Special emphasis is put on developing hierarchies of approximations for the different systems, and suitable numerical solution techniques are discussed. A separate chapter is devoted to glacial isostasy. The book is appropriate for graduate courses in glaciology, cryospheric sciences, environmental sciences, geophysics and related fields. Standard undergraduate knowledge of mathematics (calculus, linear algebra) and physics (classical mechanics, thermodynamics) provide a sufficient background for successfully studying the text.

Presents a comprehensive formulation of the fluid dynamical basis of glacier and ice sheet flow and thermodynamics, with focussing on its application to numerical modelling

Contenu
Ice in the Climate System.- Vectors, Tensors and Their Representation.- Elements of Continuum Mechanics.- Constitutive Equations for Polycrystalline Ice.- Large-Scale Dynamics of Ice Sheets.- Large-Scale Dynamics of Ice Shelves.- Dynamics of Glacier Flow.- Glacial Isostasy.- Advanced Topics.- Conclusions, Summary and Outlook.- Erratum.