Thermomechanical coupling of ice flow with the bedrock

Two aspects of thermal coupling with bedrock are considered: the coupled time-dependent problem of co-evolving temperatures in lithosphere and ice; and the influence of basal topography on steady temperature distribution within the ice. The nature of the time-dependent coupling is found to depend on the horizontal velocity. As has been suggested, there is a cooling of steady temperatures on bedrock highs, but this is phase-shifted downstream when horizontal velocities increase. This observation may have consequences for geomorphological processes such as plucking and protection. The effect of bedrock channelling on steady temperature is considered. The positive anomaly of basal temperature due to channelling increases as the transverse wavelength decreases, but not monotonically, reaching a plateau when both the wavelengths of the basal topography are around 100 km.

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