A stress-based poro-damage phase field model for hydrofracturing of creeping glaciers and ice shelves

There is a need for computational models capable of predicting meltwater-assisted crevasse growth in glacial ice. Mass loss from glaciers and ice sheets the largest contributor to sea-level rise iceberg calving due hydrofracture one most prominent yet less understood mass processes. To overcome limitations empirical analytical approaches, we here propose new phase field-based framework simulate both grounded floating shelves. The model incorporates three elements needed mechanistically surface basal crevasses: (i) constitutive description incorporating non-linear viscous rheology ice, (ii) field formulation capturing cracking phenomena arbitrary complexity, such as 3D interaction, (iii) poro-damage representation account role meltwater pressure on growth. A stress-based adopted reduce length-scale sensitivity, tackle large scales calving, adequately predict tensile stress regions incompressible solids. potential presented demonstrated by addressing number 2D case studies, involving single multiple crevasses, considering conditions. results show good agreement with approaches when particularised idealised scenarios where these are relevant. More importantly, demonstrate how can be used provide first predictions interactions shelves sheets, shedding light into phenomena. Also, creep-assisted nucleation crevasses simulated realistic geometry, corresponding Helheim glacier. opens horizons modelling and, its ability incorporate behaviour, readily incorporated numerical sheet projecting rise.