Melt Pond Pattern Formation In Greenland

The Greenland Ice Sheet is a massive glacier that covers most of Greenland's surface and contains enough ice to raise the sea level by up to seven meters, if it melts due to climate change. Moreover, this melting could potentially lead to the disruption of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). For this reason, it is crucial to understand the processes that influence its melting. Meltponds, which form on its surface during the warmest months, are believed to potentially accelerate the melting process and its evolution significantly. Their variety of characteristics, can be seen as a result of a pattern-forming process that involves the interplay of multiple components, such as temperature, albedo, and mechanical processes. We employ a conceptual model of the Greenland ice sheet to unravel the possible role of such pattern formation related to meltponds in the context of global warming and climate change. This analysis is meant to contribute to a further understanding of possible essential processes influencing the future of the Greenland Ice Sheet.