Calving Multiplier Effect Controlled by Melt Undercut Geometry

Quantifying the impact of submarine melting on calving is central to understanding response marine-terminating glaciers ocean forcing. Modeling and observational studies suggest potential for amplify (the multiplier effect), but there little consensus as under what conditions this occurs. Here, by viewing a glacier an elastic beam, we propose analytical basis presence or absence effect. We show that terminus becomes undercut it more susceptible both serac failure (calving only ice undercut, driven vertical imbalance) rotational (full-thickness behind grounding line, imbalance). By deriving stress thresholds these two forms calving, dominant styles determined principally shape melt-undercutting. Uniform undercutting extending from bed waterline promotes no effect, while experiencing linear greatest at zero are likely experience Our study offers quantitative framework where when effect occurs, and, therefore, route parameterizing in sheet-scale models.