Modeling Glacial Isostatic Adjustment with Composite Rheology and Lateral Heterogeneity in Mantle Viscosity

In our research, the response of the solid earth and its oceans to the glaciation and deglaciation events since the last Ice Age is modeled numerically. This response of the Earth is called the Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (or GIA) process. The short term objectives of this work is to construct thickness history models of the huge ice sheets with the correct mantle flow law that can explain all the geologic and geodetic observations of GIA (e.g. global sea level data, 3D crustal motion as observed by GPS, gravity changes, earth rotation & satellite measurements, postglacial faults & intraplate seismicity data) simultaneously.
The results of this study has important applications: the ice sheet history model constructed can be used for climate simulation and leads to better understanding of climate change in the past, present and future. It also allows us to better understand the source of global sea level change and monitor global warming. Understanding of GIA induced sea level change is important to coastal engineering and impact the large human population that lives near the coast. It also affects the adoption of a dynamic geodetic height reference system, which is required in positioning and in engineering construction projects. Study of GIA also leads to better knowledge of the viscosity or flow law of the earth. Knowledge of the viscosity is crucial in understanding plate tectonics and how the structure of our planet has evolved in the past, present and future.