Fluid dynamics of glacial sediments

Glacial sediments have widely varying flow (rheological) properties that influence the dynamics of the overlying glacier.

With ongoing, alarming changes to the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, there is an urgent need to develop accurate glacial sediment models that can help predict future ice loss and sea-level change.

This multidisciplinary project will develop new laboratory experiments to make accurate measurements of fluid flow and deformation in the sediment bed, and how these are influenced by fluid pressure and flow rates, and the properties of the glacial sediment (granular size/shape distributions).

These parameter studies will inform development of new theoretical models for glacier-sediment interactions and how these influence present and future ice sheet behaviour.