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11 - Numerical modeling

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 December 2019

Roger LeB. Hooke
Affiliation:
University of Maine, Orono
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Summary

Numerical modeling is a way of solving complex sets of equations that cannot be solved analytically.In finite difference modeling the infinitesimal step (e.g. dx) in the governing differential equation is replaced by a finite step (e.g. "∆x" ), and the variation over this step is assumed to be linear. Integration starts at a boundary and continues stepwise across the domain. In finite element and finite volume models, the domain is discretized into elements of unequal size and equations are written relating parameters on the boundaries of these elements. This results in a system of equations that must be solved simultaneously.Because the deformation rate in a glacier is a function of temperature, and conversely, full solutions require coupling of energy balance and momentum balance equations.Examples are given involving the role of subglacial permafrost in ice sheet behavior, estimation of prior ice sheet behavior from characteristics measured in ice cores and boreholes, and use of non-deterministic models to estimate sea level rise.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2019

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  • Numerical modeling
  • Roger LeB. Hooke, University of Maine, Orono
  • Book: Principles of Glacier Mechanics
  • Online publication: 20 December 2019
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108698207.014
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  • Numerical modeling
  • Roger LeB. Hooke, University of Maine, Orono
  • Book: Principles of Glacier Mechanics
  • Online publication: 20 December 2019
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108698207.014
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Numerical modeling
  • Roger LeB. Hooke, University of Maine, Orono
  • Book: Principles of Glacier Mechanics
  • Online publication: 20 December 2019
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108698207.014
Available formats
×