THEORETICAL PHYSICS OF ICEBERGS

Climate change is affecting our planet in numerous ways. One of the most noticeable impacts is the melting of ice caps and glaciers, leading to the breaking of icebergs. This phenomenon is particularly evident in the polar regions, where temperatures have risen significantly, causing the ice to melt at an alarming rate. The breakage of icebergs contributes to the rise in sea levels, which can have severe consequences for coastal communities and low-lying islands. It also affects marine ecosystems, altering migration patterns of animals, and disrupting the food chain.

Problem

The breakage of icebergs also has significant economic impacts, as it can impact shipping lanes and the extraction of natural resources, such as oil and gas. Hence, predicting the dynamics of icebergs and glaciers is of crucial importance.

We are looking for 2 masters students to work on

A minimal theoretical model of ice shelves and glaciers motion
A computational model of icebergs and glaciers

Your Research

You will work with a team to develop theoretical and computational platforms to study the motion and deformation of icebergs and glaciers. To this end, we will use our new and unique development in thin film modelling and computational fluid dynamics of complex (elastoviscoplastic) materials. Such Materials behave like solids under low stresses and flow like fluids when the stress is high. Hence, we can model the motion, deformation, and fracture in icebergs and glaciers. The research includes derivation of governing continuum differential equations and their solutions, using asymptotic and numerical methods and the physical interpretation of the results.

Methods involved

Theory: Computational Hydrodynamics to solve elastoviscoplasticity, Thin film hydrodynamics

Supervisors: Mazi Jalaal (m.jalaal@uva.nl) / Hugo Franca (h.franca@uva.nl)

Literature

Ice Sheet Dynamics Review: click here