Benchmark experiments for higher-order and full-Stokes ice sheet models (ISMIP–HOM)

TLDR

The study compares higher‑order and full‑Stokes ice sheet models across six experiments, including one analytical solution, applied to both 2‑D and 3‑D geometries with five steady‑state diagnostic tests and one time‑dependent prognostic test. All participating models agree closely, but higher‑order models differ from full‑Stokes models, which exhibit a much smaller spread and better agreement with each other and the analytical solution. Abstract.

Abstract

Abstract. We present the results of the first ice sheet model intercomparison project for higher-order and full-Stokes ice sheet models. These models are compared and verified in a series of six experiments of which one has an analytical solution obtained from a perturbation analysis. The experiments are applied to both 2-D and 3-D geometries; five experiments are steady-state diagnostic, and one has a time-dependent prognostic solution. All participating models give results that are in close agreement. A clear distinction can be made between higher-order models and those that solve the full system of equations. The full-Stokes models show a much smaller spread, hence are in better agreement with one another and with the analytical solution.