Dynamics of Ice Sheets and Glaciers

Dynamics of Ice Sheets and Glaciers presents an introduction to the dynamics and thermodynamics of flowing ice masses on Earth. Based on an outline of general continuum mechanics, the different initial-boundary-value problems for the flow of ice sheets, ice shelves, ice caps and glaciers are systematically derived. Special emphasis is put on developing hierarchies of approximations for the different systems, and suitable numerical solution techniques are discussed. A separate chapter is devoted to glacial isostasy. The book is appropriate for graduate courses in glaciology, cryospheric sciences, environmental sciences, geophysics and related fields. Standard undergraduate knowledge of mathematics (calculus, linear algebra) and physics (classical mechanics, thermodynamics) provide a sufficient background for successfully studying the text.

From the reviews:

“The text ... give enough information to point the reader in the appropriate direction. ... designed to be adsorbed through study and practice, and will be a worthwhile guide for beginning graduate students and those with experience in other aspects of geophysical fluid dynamics. It is primarily a text in practical ice sheet modeling techniques, and as much will be useful to those beginning their work in this field.” (Alan W. Rempel, Pure and Applied Geophysics, Vol. 167, 2010)