Lecture 9 Flashcards
What do numerical ice sheet models describe?
The properties, the flow, and the thermal regime of ice by a series of equations, which are solved with the aid of numerical algorithms.
How are the temperature and velocity of ice within numerical models estimated?
The ice sheet body is subdivided into small geometrical figures called gris cells. Equations are solved within each model grid cell, estimating the temperature and ice velocity.
How does a numerical model derive a continuous solution for the temperature and flow pattern of ice in an entire ice sheet?
Solutions of equations in the neighboring grid cells are connected through common sides.
How big was the Cordilleran ice sheet during the last glacial maximum?
Different ice cores estimate different ice volumes, from 3 to 8 meters of sea level equivalent.
How has the extent of the former Eurasian ice sheet complex been estimated?
By combining glacial geomorphology (glacial landscapes) and geochronology (estimating age) to derive a reconstruction.
Is numerical modeling effective in estimating paleo glaciations?
No, they are to simplistic and does not take into account the complex processes.
