Observations
and modeling of the thinning of the Greenland ice sheet
Newest
scientific results from NASA documents a significant thinning of the Greenland
ice sheet margin in the southern and eastern parts. The observations are based
on repeated laser altimetry data collected in 1993 and 1999, respectively. The
observed thinning during this period is larger than can be explained by the
climate solely. However, no firm reason for the thinning is given. The present
PhD.-project aims at evaluating the observed thinning using a combination of
multiple data analysis and ice flow modeling. The aim is to develop a
non-stationary ice flow model to be used along a flow line of the ice sheet
where the thinning has shown greatest. Then to run the model with a series of
climate and energy balance conditions in order to simulate the thinning and to
provide the most likely explanation for the observed thinning.
The project
is a collaboration between GEUS and Geophysical Department at University of
Copenhagen. GEUS has more than 25 years of expertise in observation and
modeling of melting at the ice sheet margin. The Geophysical Department has
expertise in ice flow modeling of the Greenland ice sheet.
Contact
persons:
Dr. Carl
Egede Bøggild, GEUS [email protected]
Dr. Dorthe
Dahl-Jensen, NBIfAFG [email protected]