Predicting iceberg calving in glaciers and its impact to ocean environment

Global climate change significantly causes iceberg calving from glaciers and bring huge impact to ocean environment. This PhD project aims to establish a novel modelling technology to fundamentally study the calving mechanism of iceberg and predict crevasse propagation in glaciers and corresponding impact to ocean environment. The framework of extended cohesive damage element method (ECDE) developed by primary supervisor will be introduced as a base to simulate tensile (mode I), shear (mode II) and mixed mode fracture propagation in glaciers. The ECDE will be in cooperating with ice properties considering their variations with temperature and density to study the calving mechanism of iceberg under external factors, including temperature, gravity or related bending, warm water tidal impact, etc. 2D and 3D numerical models will be established in terms of basic data of geography and construction of glaciers for prediction. This PhD will also conduct experimental work to obtain ice property, including Yang's modules, strength and fracture toughness, varying with temperature and density. The ice properties will be used as inputs for modelling simulation. This PhD project would basically form a modelling tool to predict iceberg calving from glaciers.