Simulation of the Antarctic ice sheet with a three-dimensional polythermal ice-sheet model, in support of the EPICA project
by R. Calov, A. A. Savvin, R. Greve, I. Hansen, K. Hutter
The three-dimensional polythermal ice-sheet model SICOPOLIS is applied to the entire Antarctic ice sheet in support of the European Project for Ice Coring in Antartica (EPICA). In this study, we focus on the deep ice core to be drilled in Dronning Maud Land (Atlantic sector of east Antarctica) as part of EPICA. It has not yet been decided where the exact drill-site will be situated. Our objective is to support EPICA during its planning phase as well as during the actual drilling process.
We discuss a transient simulation with a climate forcing derived from the Vostok ice core and the SPECMAP sea-level record. This simulation shows the range of accumulation, basal temperature, age and shear deformation to be expected in the region of Dronning Maud Land. Based on these results, a possible coring position is proposed, and the distribution of temperature, age, horizontal velocity and shear deformation is shown for this column.
