A fast and unified subglacial hydrological model applied to Thwaites Glacier, Antarctica

Abstract. We present a novel and computationally efficient subglacial hydrological model that represents in a unified way both hard and soft bed rheologies as well as a dynamic switch between efficient and inefficient subglacial discharge. The subglacial model is dynamically linked to a regularized Coulomb friction law, allowing for a coupled evolution of the ice sheet on decadal to centennial time scales. The hydrological model is tested on an idealized marine ice sheet and subsequently applied to the drainage basin of Thwaites Glacier, West Antarctica, that is composed of a heterogeneous (hard/soft) bed. We find that subglacial hydrology embedded in the sliding law accelerates the grounding line retreat of Thwaites Glacier under present-day climatic conditions. Highest retreat rates are obtained for hard bed configurations and/or inefficient drainage systems. We show that the sensitivity is particularly driven by large gradients in effective pressure, more so than the value of effective pressure itself in the vicinity of the grounding line. Clearly, a better understanding of the subglacial system is needed with respect to both the spatial and temporal variability in effective pressure and bed rheological conditions.