Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2916
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2916
16 Oct 2024
 | 16 Oct 2024

Damage strength increases ice mass loss from Thwaites Glacier, Antarctica

Yanjun Li, Violaine Coulon, Javier Blasco, Gang Qiao, Qinghua Yang, and Frank Pattyn

Abstract. Ice damage plays a critical role in determining ice-shelf stability, grounding-line retreat, and subsequent sea-level rise, as it affects the formation and development of crevasses on glaciers. However, few ice-sheet models have explicitly considered ice damage nor its effect on glacier projections. Here, we incorporate ice damage processes into an ice-sheet model. By applying the upgraded model to the Thwaites Glacier basin, we further investigate the sensitivity of Thwaites Glacier to the strength of the ice damage. Our results indicate that the ice-sheet model enabled with the ice damage mechanics better captures the observed ice geometry and mass balance of the Thwaites Glacier during the historical period (1990–2020), compared to the default model that ignores ice damage mechanics. Ice damage may result in a collapse of Thwaites Glacier on multidecadal-to-centennial timescales and a notable increase in ice mass loss. Moreover, ice mass loss from Thwaites Glacier to the ocean may induce a sea-level rise of 5.0 ± 2.9 cm by 2300, which is more than double the simulation result without ice damage. This study highlights the importance of explicitly representing ice damage processes in ice-sheet models.

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Yanjun Li, Violaine Coulon, Javier Blasco, Gang Qiao, Qinghua Yang, and Frank Pattyn

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2916', Tong Zhang, 20 Dec 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Yanjun Li, 28 Mar 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2916', Ravindra Duddu, 19 Jan 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Yanjun Li, 28 Mar 2025

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2916', Tong Zhang, 20 Dec 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Yanjun Li, 28 Mar 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2916', Ravindra Duddu, 19 Jan 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Yanjun Li, 28 Mar 2025
Yanjun Li, Violaine Coulon, Javier Blasco, Gang Qiao, Qinghua Yang, and Frank Pattyn
Yanjun Li, Violaine Coulon, Javier Blasco, Gang Qiao, Qinghua Yang, and Frank Pattyn

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Short summary
We incorporate ice damage processes into an ice-sheet model and apply the new model to Thwaites Glacier. The upgraded model more accurately captures the observed ice geometry and mass balance of Thwaites Glacier over 1990–2020. Our simulations show that ice damage has a notable impact on the ice sheet evolution, ice mass loss and the resulted sea-level rise. This study highlights the necessity for incorporating ice damage into ice-sheet models.
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