The Cryosphere Discussions www.the-cryosphere-discuss.net 1994-0432 1994-0440 4 3 2010 10.5194/tcd-4-1497-2010 http://www.the-cryosphere-discuss.net/4/1497/2010/ http://www.the-cryosphere-discuss.net/4/1497/2010/tcd-4-1497-2010.html http://www.the-cryosphere-discuss.net/4/1497/2010/tcd-4-1497-2010.pdf 1497 1523 2010-08-27 Parameterization for subgrid-scale motion of ice-shelf calving-fronts T. Albrecht M. Martin M. Haseloff R. Winkelmann A. Levermann anders.levermann@pik-potsdam.de Earth System Analysis, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Potsdam, Germany Institute of Physics, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany Earth and Ocean Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada A parameterization for the motion of ice-shelf fronts on a Cartesian grid in finite-difference land-ice models is presented. The scheme prevents artificial thinning of the ice shelf at its edge, which occurs due to the finite resolution of the model. 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