Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1970
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1970
08 Jul 2024
 | 08 Jul 2024

High-Fidelity Modeling of Turbulent Mixing and Basal Melting in Seawater Intrusion Under Grounded Ice

Madeline S. Mamer, Alexander A. Robel, Chris C. K. Lai, Earle Wilson, and Peter Washam

Abstract. Small-scale ice-ocean interactions near and within grounding zones play an important role in determining the current and future contribution of marine ice sheets to sea level rise. However, the processes mediating these interactions are represented inaccurately in large-scale coupled models and thus contribute to uncertainty in future projections. Due to limited observations and computational resources, grounding zone fluid dynamics in ice sheet models are simplified, omitting potential fluid exchange across the grounding zone. Previous modeling studies have demonstrated that seawater can interact with subglacial discharge upstream of the grounding zone and recent observations appear to support this possibility. In this study, we investigate turbulent mixing of intruded seawater and glacial meltwater under grounded ice using a high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics solver. In agreement with previous work, we demonstrate the strongest control on intrusion distance is the speed of subglacial discharge and the geometry of the subglacial environment. We show that, in some cases, turbulent mixing can reduce intrusion distance, but not prevent intrusion entirely. Basal melting from seawater intrusion produces buoyant meltwater which acts as an important negative feedback by reducing near-ice thermohaline gradients. Modeled basal melt rates from seawater intrusion exceed melt rates predicted by existing sub-ice shelf melt parameterizations, which make assumptions about the structure of the near-ice boundary layer that do not hold where seawater intrudes into fresh subglacial discharge. We conclude that, during periods of slow subglacial discharge, seawater intrusion can be an important mechanism of ocean-forced basal melting of marine ice sheets.

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Madeline S. Mamer, Alexander A. Robel, Chris C. K. Lai, Earle Wilson, and Peter Washam

Status: final response (author comments only)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-1970', Anonymous Referee #1, 31 Jul 2024
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC1', Madeline Mamer, 06 Nov 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-1970', Madelaine Rosevear, 09 Oct 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC2', Madeline Mamer, 06 Nov 2024
Madeline S. Mamer, Alexander A. Robel, Chris C. K. Lai, Earle Wilson, and Peter Washam
Madeline S. Mamer, Alexander A. Robel, Chris C. K. Lai, Earle Wilson, and Peter Washam

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Short summary
In this work, we simulate estuary-like seawater intrusions into the subglacial hydrologic system for marine outlet glaciers. We find the largest controls on seawater intrusion are the subglacial space geometry and meltwater discharge velocity. Further, we highlight the importance of extending ocean-forced ice loss to grounded portions of the ice sheet, which is currently not represented in models coupling ice sheets to ocean dynamics.