This $400,757 Project Grant awarded by the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Division of Polar Programs (CFDA 47.078) to the University of Wisconsin - Madison will support research to determine the fundamental processes that control the shape and geometry of subglacial cavities formed beneath fast-moving glaciers. The research aims to:
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Use a novel experimental device to systematically assess how effective stress, sliding speed, and bedrock bump geometry impact cavity geometry, while tracking strain indicators within the ice.
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Use the experimental findings to constrain process-based numerical models that can explore a broader range of parameters to improve predictions of subglacial sliding, hydrology, and erosion.
The project outcomes are expected to provide a detailed understanding of the physics governing cavity geometry and deliver a simple parameterization that can be incorporated into glaciological models. This research could ultimately improve projections of sea-level rise, benefiting society. The award will also support training of a postdoctoral researcher and undergraduate students from tribal institutions.
Generated 3/4/25, 8:16 AM