Stability of the Junction of an Ice Sheet and an Ice Shelf
1974/01/01 by J. Weertman · 443 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Medicine · #Antarctic ice sheet #Antarctic sea ice #Arctic and Antarctic ice dynamics #Arctic ice pack #Continental shelf #Cryosphere #Cryospheric studies and observations #Geology #Geomorphology #Ice divide #Ice sheet #Ice shelf #Ice stream #Ice-sheet model #Oceanography #Sea ice #Winter Sports Injuries and Performance
paper · pdf · doi:10.3189/s0022143000023327
published in Journal of Glaciology 13(67), 3-11 (Cambridge University Press)
openalex publication_date 1974/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/26
Abstract
An analysis is made of the steady-state size of a two-dimensional ice sheet whose base is below sea-level and which terminates in floating ice shelves. Under the assumption of perfect plasticity it is found that an ice sheet placed on a bed whose surface was initially flat cannot exist if the depth of the bed below sea-level exceeds a critical depth. If this depth is less than the critical level, the ice sheet extends out to the edge of the continental shelf. Similar results are found with more realistic assumptions about the laws governing the flow of ice. If the bed slopes away from the centre, the ice sheet can have a stable width that increases in value as the accumulation rate increases or as sea-level is lowered. It is not possible to decide whether or not the West Antarctic ice sheet is in stable equilibrium. It is entirely possible that this ice sheet is disintegrating at present, as suggested by Hughes.
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