Frank Pattyn
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Frank PattynHome | C.V. | Research | Publications | Cours | Leisure | Contact |
| Studying the dynamical behaviour of ice sheets and
glaciers is of importance if we want to understand and
predict how they react to changes in the environment
(climate), of which the recent global warming is of major
concern. Recent warming trends result in observable
changes to the Earth's cryosphere. However, the picture
is quite complex for the Antarctic ice sheet. Some areas
are more vulnerable to melting, particularly those that
exist in the warmer parts of Antarctica, such as the
Antarctic Peninsula. Glaciers along the Siple Coast are
not only fast but fickle (they speed up and slow down
over a period of hundreds of years), while in some areas
the ice sheet thins rapidly (Amundsen Sea Embayment). Ice
dynamics and the interaction of the ice sheet with the
underlying substrate play an important role in the
complex behaviour of the ice sheet. There is currently a great lack of accuracy in the models that are used to predict the effect of climate change on the mass loss or gain of ice sheets. The major reason for this is that there is a lack of knowledge on the dynamic behaviour of grounding lines. The grounding line is the area where the ice sheet, as it flows towards the ocean, starts to float and forms an ice shelf (see figure). |
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While the calving off of icebergs further downstream constitutes the main cause for the mass loss of the Antarctic ice sheet, changes in the mass flux across the grounding line also has a direct impact on sea level. This is because as ice crosses the grounding line, it becomes part of the ocean system and positively contributes to sea level rise. It is therefore important to know the amount of mass loss that can be attributed to melting, but also the amount of mass loss that provokes an increased mass discharge across the grounding line.
