In order to predict how much the sea level will rise in the future it is crucial to accurately model ice sheets and their heat exchange with the surrounding ocean. In this project we use the software Elmer/Ice as well as FEniCS to simulate ice sheets by solving the p-Stokes equations. We also model the ocean circulation close to the ice sheet by solving the Boussinesq equations. These problem are both non-linear and involve moving interfaces. We develop numerical methods to run efficient and stable simulations.
In the previous Small project 2023/22-298 we did initial simulations of the ocean using FEniCS , and we now plan to make more complex simulations, which will be more computationally expensive. We are also hoping to move from FEniCS to FEniCSx. Furthermore we will simulate grounding line migration and ice rises in three dimensions and high resolution with Elmer/Ice. These simulations are particularly expensive as a high spatial resolution and the full p-Stokes equations (rather than ice-flow approximations) are needed due to complicated ice-flow physics at the grounding line.