Collaborative Research: Explosive Ice-Shelf Disintegration

该奖项支持一个项目，该项目旨在检查和测试在最近的2008年和2009年威尔金斯冰架事件之后出现的爆炸性冰架崩解的三步过程模型。该模型的条件是夏季融化驱动的自由表面水的增加，以及满足“使能条件”所必需的地表和底部裂缝密度的增长。一旦相遇，崩塌将经过三个步骤：(步骤1)从冰架朝向大海的冰面崩解一个“领先方阵”的板状冰山，在其尾部形成一个称为“莫什坑”的区域(位于方阵和完整冰架边缘之间)，在那里海洋表面重力波被反射捕获(这是一个快速的机械过程)，(步骤2)，通过冰山倾覆和“莫什坑”内的碎裂，重力势能迅速失控地转化为海浪能量，从而导致进一步的波浪引起的崩解、倾覆和碎裂(步骤3)。该项目将由一个多学科小组进行，重点是理论模型开发、数值方法开发和应用以及新的观测。该项目将参与物理系的本科生研究体验计划和暑期研究早期识别计划(SR-EIP)，该计划旨在促进代表不足的少数群体参与研究。PIs、博士后学者、研究生和无资金资助的参与者将开发一个研究生级别的研讨会/教程，向冰川学介绍先进的计算方法。一名博士后学者和研究生将在项目期间接受新研究技术的培训。

This award supports a project to examine and test a 3-step process model for explosive ice-shelf disintegration that emerged in the wake of the recent 2008 and 2009 events of the Wilkins Ice Shelf. The model is conditioned on Summer melt-driven increase in free-surface water coupled with surface and basal crevasse density growth necessary to satisfy an "enabling condition". Once met, the collapse proceeds through three steps: (Step 1), calving of a "leading phalanx" of tabular icebergs from the seaward ice front of the ice shelf which creates in its wake a region, called a "mosh pit" (located between the phalanx and the edge of the intact ice shelf), where ocean surface-gravity waves are trapped by reflection (a fast mechanically enabled process), (Step 2), and a rapid, runaway conversion of gravitational potential energy into ocean-wave energy by iceberg capsize and fragmentation within the "mosh pit" which leads to further wave-induced calving, capsize and fragmentation (Step 3). The project will be conducted by a multidisciplinary team and will focus on theoretical model development, numerical method development and application and new observations. The project will participate in both the Research Experience for Undergraduates program in the Physics Department and the Summer Research Early Identification Program (SR-EIP) that fosters participation in research by underrepresented minorities. The PIs, postdoctoral scholar, graduate students and unfunded participants will develop a graduate-level seminar/tutorial to introduce advanced computational methods to glaciology. A postdoctoral scholar and graduate student will be trained in new research techniques during the project.