Geothermal Flux Basal Melt
Convert net geothermal-minus-conductive basal heat to signed ice melt under pressure-melting conditions; negative flux represents freezing potential, not guaranteed actual freezing.
Description
Net heat at a bed already at pressure melting can supply latent heat for melting.
Net heat at a bed already at pressure melting can supply latent heat for melting. A heat deficit gives a signed freezing potential under that assumption.
Convert net geothermal-minus-conductive basal heat to signed ice melt under pressure-melting conditions; negative flux represents freezing potential, not guaranteed actual freezing.
When to use Geothermal Flux Basal Melt
Use this for the following task: Convert net geothermal-minus-conductive basal heat to signed ice melt under pressure-melting conditions; negative flux represents freezing potential, not guaranteed actual freezing.
Prepare the measurements and calibration parameters in the declared units. Keep vector entries aligned and choose a consistent spatial frame and time basis.
How to use Geothermal Flux Basal Melt and understand its results
- Prepare the measurements and calibration parameters in the declared units. Keep vector entries aligned and choose a consistent spatial frame and time basis.
- Enter geothermalFluxWattsPerM2, conductiveHeatLossWattsPerM2, iceDensityKgPerM3, latentHeatJPerKg, secondsPerYear using the field table, then run the tool.
- Read netBasalHeatFluxWattsPerM2, signedMeltMetersIcePerYear. Interpret flags, units, ordering and placeholder values using the rules below.
- Review any reported issue or failed check, correct the supplied values when appropriate, and verify the result in its intended context.
| Input field | Meaning | Value type and bounds | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| geothermalFluxWattsPerM2 | Geothermal flux watts per m2 | number | Required |
| conductiveHeatLossWattsPerM2 | Conductive heat loss watts per m2 | number | Required |
| iceDensityKgPerM3 | Ice density kg per m3 | number | Required |
| latentHeatJPerKg | Latent heat j per kg | number | Required |
| secondsPerYear | Seconds per year | number | Required |
Require nonnegative supplied heat fluxes and positive density, latent heat and year length. Preserve the net heat sign in the ice-equivalent melt rate.1
net = geothermal − conductive loss; melt = net secondsPerYear/(ρice latentHeat) This summarizes the declared operation. Units, indexing, inclusivity and exceptional cases are explained in the surrounding text.
| Output field | Meaning | Value type |
|---|---|---|
| netBasalHeatFluxWattsPerM2 | Net basal heat flux watts per m2 | number |
| signedMeltMetersIcePerYear | Signed melt meters ice per year | number |
{
"input": {
"geothermalFluxWattsPerM2": 0.1,
"conductiveHeatLossWattsPerM2": 0.04,
"iceDensityKgPerM3": 900,
"latentHeatJPerKg": 300000,
"secondsPerYear": 30000000
},
"output": {
"netBasalHeatFluxWattsPerM2": 0.060000000000000005,
"signedMeltMetersIcePerYear": 0.006666666666666668
}
}Limitations and assumptions
Negative melt indicates potential freezing, not proof that freezing occurred. A cold bed can use heat for warming instead.
Constants and empirical coefficients are supplied rather than calibrated. Check units and observational applicability before interpreting the model. Malformed requests produce input errors. A successfully evaluated request can still contain false flags, empty result lists or a result outside the supplied threshold; those outcomes have the meanings stated above.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Choose Friction Heating Melt Contribution for this operation: Balance basal traction×sliding power and caller heat partition to ice melt at pressure melting; not geothermal heating or a sliding-speed prediction. For a complementary task, use Pressure Melting Point Depth for this operation: Compute linear pressure-melting depression from ice overburden with supplied Clapeyron slope; solute and gas effects are excluded.
The implementation reference documents the exact calculation, supported input shapes and returned fields.
References
-
Geothermal Flux Basal Melt — tool.io
Similar or alternative tools
- Friction Heating Melt Contribution
Balance basal traction×sliding power and caller heat partition to ice melt at pressure melting; not geothermal heating or a sliding-speed prediction.
- Pressure Melting Point Depth
Compute linear pressure-melting depression from ice overburden with supplied Clapeyron slope; solute and gas effects are excluded.