SHORT NOTE: PRECISION AND CONVERGENCE OF A STEADY TWO-DIMENSIONAL ICE SHEET FLOW MODEL

Abstract

Ice-sheet flow is described by the Navier-Stokes equations. We present here an analytical solution for a very simple configuration of two-dimensional ice sheet flow. It is obtained for an imposed flat surface elevation and for a linear flow law. This analytical solution is used here to estimate the performance and precision of a two-dimensional ice sheet flow model. In particular, the comparison of this 2D ice sheet flow model with the analytical solution has allowed to test all the terms involved in the mechanical equations. This analytical solution may be very useful to test similar types of models.