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Randomized trial investigates ice sheet sensitivity across atmospheric, bedrock, and oceanic interfaces, suggesting improved model capabilities.
This study systematically investigates parameter sensitivity and regional variations at the ice sheet-atmosphere, ice sheet-bedrock, and ice sheet–ocean interfaces in the Antarctic Ice Sheet using the Parallel Ice Sheet Model. At the ice sheet–atmosphere interface, simulated results employing the Positive Degree-Day (PDD) scheme and the RACMO2.3p2 surface mass balance product yield very similar deviations in ice thickness and volume compared to satellite observations. For the ice sheet–bedrock interface, basal till friction angles exhibit significant spatial variability (below 3° on the Antarctic Peninsula, 5°–10° near grounding lines), with an optimal basal water drainage rate around 1 mm y−1. At the ice sheet-ocean interface, the recommended calving coefficient is around 1 × 101 6 m ⋅ s, while the Potsdam Ice-shelf Cavity Model (PICO) accurately simulates sub-shelf basal melting and heat exchange compared to the boundary-layer ocean model. Moreover, large ice shelves such as Ronne-Filchner and Ross exhibit higher sensitivity to calving coefficients and heat‑exchange parameters, while grounded ice dynamics are more influenced by basal friction properties. These results elucidate the mechanistic role of interfacial processes in ice‑sheet behaviour and provide key constraints for improving the simulation capabilities of ice‑sheet models.
Gao et al. (2026) studied this question.