Physics-based parameterisation framework for basal melting in ice-ocean boundary layers over dynamically stable...

Accurate basal melt prediction is crucial for assessing ice sheet stability and sea level rise. Recent observations at eastern Thwaites Glacier reported low melt rates despite warm ocean waters. Weak vertical mixing due to low current speeds and strong density stratification suppresses melting. However, the basal melt parameterization approach in ocean models overestimates the melt rates there. Hence, we revisit the parameterization by applying an ice-ocean boundary current model to a simple horizontal ice base. This setting creates a boundary layer (BL) over a dynamically stable pycnocline. We show that the pycnocline's low diffusivity restricts heat transfer, causing models to overpredict melting, especially for weaker far-field currents. While reducing the prescribed BL depth can minimize this overprediction in ocean models, a better fix might be prescribing an upper melt rate limit for slower currents. We also propose a physics-based parameterization framework that more accurately emulates physics in models and observations.