basics.md

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Basic applications	What is PISM used for?	page	is-medium	/img/header_torsten_2.JPG	Photo: T. Albrecht	false	true	true

Model description papers

PISM is continuously developed. Important model components and improvements as well as their description comprise for example:

• SSA as sliding law: Bueler and Brown (2009)
• General model description: Winkelmann et al. (2011)
• Model calibration and first application to Antarctica: Martin et al. (2011)
• Enthalpy-conservation scheme: Aschwanden et al. (2012)
• Grounding-line motion: Feldmann et al. (2014)
• Subglacial hydrology: Bueler and van Pelt (2015)
• Calibration and ensemble parameter scoring: Albrecht et al. (2020a), Albrecht et al. (2020b)

Ice-sheet dynamics

{:refdef: style="text-align: center;"} Graphic: J. Garbe {: refdef}

Using PISM, major advances in the understanding and model representation of key physical processes, which control the behavior of ice sheets, have been made. Examples include:

• Ice-front motion: Albrecht et al. (2011)
• Calving: Levermann et al. (2012)
• Fracture dynamics: Albrecht and Levermann (2012)
• Sub-shelf melt: Reese et al. (2018)
• Surface melt: Zeitz et al. (2021), Garbe et al. (2023)
• Marine ice sheet instability (MISI)
• Marine ice-cliff instability (MICI): Schlemm et al. (2022)

Sea-level projections

{:refdef: style="text-align: center;"} Source: Edwards et al. (2021) {: refdef}

The ice sheets on Greenland and Antartica are the largest freshwater reservoirs with a combined sea-level rise potential of more than 65 meters. Their mass loss and future contributions to sea-level rise in response to different scenarios of changing atmospheric and oceanic conditions can be determined by applying PISM, as previously accomplished by e.g.:

• Antarctica
  • ISMIP6: Seroussi et al. (2020)
  • LARMIP-2: Levermann et al. (2020)
  • Reese et al. (2020)
  • Winkelmann et al. (2015)
  • SeaRISE: Nowicki et al. (2013a)
• Greenland
  • ISMIP6: Goelzer et al. (2020)
  • Aschwanden et al. (2019)
  • SeaRISE: Nowicki et al. (2013b)
• Both ice sheets
  • Edwards et al. (2021)
  • Golledge et al. (2019)
  • Winkelmann and Levermann (2013)
  • SeaRISE: Bindshadler et al. (2013)

Glacial cycle simulations

{:refdef: style="text-align: center;"} Source: Albrecht et al. (2020b) {: refdef}

Long-term model simulations are helpful for the reconstruction of the glacial-interglacial history of the Earth's ice sheets. Thereby, a better understanding of a dynamic threshold behavior and sea-level change in the past but also in the future can be gained. For the Antarctic Ice Sheet, an ensemble of glacial-cycle simulations in order to constrain paleo parameter sensitivities and boundary conditions has, for example, been performed using PISM by:

• Albrecht et al. (2020a), Albrecht et al. (2020b)

Long-term stability of ice sheets

{:refdef: style="text-align: center;"} Source: Modified after Garbe et al. (2020) {: refdef}

Several positive and negative feedback mechanisms may impact the stability of ice sheets on long timescales. Examples include the positive surface-melt-elevation feedback or the negative isostatic solid-Earth rebound effect. When crossing critical thresholds, irreversible ice loss may follow. The overall effect of the interplay between the various feedback mechanisms in the long term has been assessed by means of PISM among others by:

• Garbe et al. (2020)
• Golledge et al. (2017)
• Clark et al. (2016)
• Feldmann and Levermann (2015)
• Golledge et al. (2015)
• Winkelmann et al. (2015)

Coupling to other Earth system components

{:refdef: style="text-align: center;"} Source: Modified after Zwally et al. (2015) {: refdef}

Ice sheets interact with other Earth system components, such as the atmosphere or the ocean. To take into account and study related feedback mechanisms as well as their effect on the dynamics of the Greenland and Antartic ice sheets, PISM has been coupled to other Earth system components:

• Ocean
  • Potsdam Ice-shelf Cavity mOdel (PICO): Reese et al. (2018)
  • PISM-MOM: Kreuzer et al. (2021)
• Atmosphere
  • dEBM-simple: Zeitz et al. (2021), Garbe et al. (2023)
  • PISM-MAR: Delhasse et al. (2024)
• Solid-Earth
  • Lingle-Clark: Bueler et al. (2007)
  • PISM-VILMA: Albrecht et al. (2023)

Model intercomparisons

PISM has participated in numerous model intercomparison projects (MIPs). For a more complete list, please see MIPs & Collaborations.