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https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-6384
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-6384
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
20 Jan 2026
| 20 Jan 2026
Status: this preprint is open for discussion and under review for The Cryosphere (TC).
Brief communication: Nye was right!
Abstract. Despite decades of study, predicting crevasses penetration depths remains controversial. Nye provided one of the earliest estimates of crevasse penetration depths. Recently, a new theory, called the horizontal force balance (HFB), challenges Nye's model, suggesting crevasses can penetrate much deeper than predicted by Nye. Here we use a numerical model to show that Nye's estimate remains accurate so long as crevasses are closely spaced, but crevasses penetrate deeper as the spacing increases. Moreover, contrary to many parameterizations of crevasses as damage in depth-integrated models, we find that crevasses do not increase the stress in the intact portion of the ice.
How to cite. Bassis, J., Kachuck, S. B., Fields, M., and May, T.: Brief communication: Nye was right!, EGUsphere [preprint], https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-6384, 2026.
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Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, University of Michigan
Samuel B. Kachuck
Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, University of Michigan
Maya Fields
Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, University of Michigan
Tanner May
Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, University of Michigan
Short summary
When stressed ice can break, resulting crevasses. Crevasses are not only safety hazards, but also the precursors to iceberg calving and ice shelf collapse. John Nye provided one of the earliest and still widely used estimates of crevasse penetration depths in the 1950s. Recently, a new theory called the Horizontal Force Balance, challenges Nye's assumptions and predicts crevasses will penetrate deeper than in Nye’s theory. Here we use numerical simulations to show that Nye was right.
When stressed ice can break, resulting crevasses. Crevasses are not only safety hazards, but...