Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/Y002369/1
NSFGEO-NERC: Understanding surface-to-bed meltwater pathways across the Greenland Ice Sheet using machine-learning and physics-based models
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Dr LA Stevens, University of Oxford, Earth Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor IJ Hewitt, University of Oxford, Mathematical Institute
- Grant held at:
- University of Oxford, Earth Sciences
- Science Area:
- Atmospheric
- Earth
- Freshwater
- Marine
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Panel B
- ENRIs:
- Global Change
- Science Topics:
- Glacial processes
- Climate & Climate Change
- Glacial lakes
- Ice flow models
- Glacial & Cryospheric Systems
- Flow pathways
- Ice flow
- Hydrological Processes
- Non-linear Systems Mathematics
- Numerical Analysis
- Abstract:
- Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) mass loss acceleration is driven by increasing rates of surface melt and calving of marine-terminating outlet glaciers. The links between increasing surface melt and ice-flow dynamics are poorly understood, in part because we do not mechanistically understand where and under what conditions meltwater accesses the ice-sheet bed at a continental scale. Surface meltwater must reach the ice-bed interface via a surface-to-bed meltwater pathway for meltwater to affect GrIS flow dynamics and, in most cases, for meltwater to contribute to sea level. Surface-to-bed pathways have been manually mapped in local regions (<500 km2), but these methodologies are not practical at the continental scale (~10 to the power of 6 km2). Automated characterization and mapping of ice-sheet surface features is required to fill this gap in knowledge and advance our understanding of the features and processes driving meltwater's influence on ice-sheet dynamics. To understand the formation of surface-to-bed meltwater pathways across the GrIS and their impact on ice-flow dynamics, this three-year project will use a combination of remote-sensing observations, deep learning, and physics-based models to: (1) detect continent-wide surface fractures, moulins and supraglacial lake drainage events with satellite imagery; (2) determine the ice-sheet conditions required to trigger supraglacial lake drainage via hydrofracture and create surface-to-bed pathways; and (3) model the impact of supraglacial lake drainage events on ice-flow dynamics at a regional scale. These objectives will produce the first comprehensive, continental-scale database of GrIS surface-to-bed meltwater pathways and supraglacial lake drainage dates and mechanisms.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/Y002369/1
- Grant Stage:
- Awaiting Event/Action
- Scheme:
- Standard Grant FEC
- Grant Status:
- Active
- Programme:
- Lead Agency Grant
This grant award has a total value of £252,024
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| DI - Other Costs | Indirect - Indirect Costs | DA - Investigators | DI - Staff | DA - Estate Costs | DI - T&S | DA - Other Directly Allocated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £4,841 | £103,708 | £35,042 | £63,655 | £33,474 | £10,252 | £1,054 |
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