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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Simulating Impacts of Ice Storms on Forest Ecosystems

Simulating Impacts of Ice Storms on Forest Ecosystems

Published on: June 30, 2020

A simple law for ice-shelf calving.

Richard B Alley¹, Huw J Horgan, Ian Joughin

¹Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), University Park, PA 16802, USA. rba6@psu.edu

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|November 29, 2008

Summary

Iceberg calving, a major challenge for ice-sheet models, increases with shelf spreading rate. This suggests frictional buttressing loss drives shelf retreat and accelerates sea-level rise.

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Area of Science:

Glaciology
Climate Science
Earth System Science

Background:

Ice-sheet models struggle to accurately simulate iceberg calving.
A physically based law for calving remains elusive, hindering accurate sea-level rise predictions.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the relationship between ice-shelf dynamics and iceberg calving.
To identify key factors influencing calving rates for improved ice-sheet modeling.

Main Methods:

Comparative analysis of iceberg calving across a diverse range of ice shelves.
Examination of the correlation between along-flow spreading rate and calving events.

Main Results:

Iceberg calving rates were found to increase significantly with the along-flow spreading rate of ice shelves.
This correlation suggests a direct link between frictional buttressing loss and increased calving.

Conclusions:

Frictional buttressing loss, by increasing ice-shelf spreading, promotes calving and subsequent shelf retreat.
This process accelerates ice-sheet flow, contributing to global sea-level rise and highlighting the need for refined calving parameterizations in models.