The purposes of this research are to: 1). produce a physically based, testable ice-stream resolving finite- element model of West Antarctic, 2). parameterize important atmospheric and oceanic controls on ice-sheet mass balance (including the possible ice-sheet topography/surface-airflow feedback), and 3). conduct forecasts of West Antarctica's response to future "greenhouse" warming (and comparisons with documented past behavior serving as confidence tests). Funds are requested to support postdoctoral, graduate student and faculty salaries, equipment, travel and computer support.
