The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth has announced a new research project aimed at understanding the mechanics of ice sheet flow. The project, titled "Understanding controls on ice sheet flow through adhesion experiments and ice flow modeling" is a collaborative effort jointly led by Professors Steven Sibener in Chemistry and Meghana Ranganathan, in Geophysical Sciences.
The research will investigate the "flow-to-sliding transition" of ice streams in the Antarctic Ice Sheet, a critical but poorly understood process that controls ice loss. Sibener and Ranganathan will use a novel, multi-scale approach. Sibener's team will conduct laboratory experiments to examine the nanoscale processes of ice adhesion and pre-melting, while Ranganathan's group will integrate these findings into a large-scale ice sheet model. This combined effort is designed to provide a more accurate quantification of future ice loss and a deeper understanding of the physics underlying these critical climate
For more information, you can read the full project description on the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth's website: Understanding controls on ice sheet flow through adhesion experiments and ice flow modeling - The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth