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- Title
Calibration of a higher-order 3-D ice-flow model of the Morteratsch glacier complex, Engadin, Switzerland.
- Authors
ZEKOLLARI, H.; HUYBRECHTS, P.; FÜRST, J. J.; RYBAK, O.; EISEN, O.
- 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±52.5m 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±0.28km³. 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 15.0ma-1, R² = 0.93) by adopting a sliding factor of 12x10-16m7N-3 a-1 and a rate factor of 1.6x10-16 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 125ma-1, but also indicates an almost stagnant front and confluence area, which are crucial for understanding the ongoing glacier retreat.
- Subjects
ENGADINE (Switzerland); ICE; GEOPHYSICS; GLACIERS; CRYOSPHERE
- Publication
Annals of Glaciology, 2013, Vol 54, Issue 63, p343
- ISSN
0260-3055
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3189/2013AoG63A434