Experimental Study of Wall-attached Subglacial Plume using 2D PIV and Two Color LIF

Subglacial plume modeling plays a crucial role in the study of melting glaciers, ice sheet dynamics, and ocean circulations in polar regions. However, due to significant differences in spatial and temporal scales, implementing a full 3D model of subglacial plumes within an ocean circulation model is excessively expensive. As an alternative, the integral approach, a 1D method that predicts the average properties of a subglacial plume, is employed in circulation models. This approach allows for more realistic simulations of freshwater flux from melting ice entering the ocean.



The focus of this discussion revolves around the testing and validation of integral model formulations and parameters concerning a subglacial plume ascending along a vertical ice face. This was accomplished by analyzing detailed fluid velocity and passive tracer measurements of a 3D printed line subglacial plume. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) and two-color laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) experiments were conducted along the trajectory of the plume. These experiments enabled the quantification of turbulent transport of momentum, mass, and heat in close proximity to the water-ice interface. Additionally, matching experiments were carried out on a non-melting, solid wall to provide a baseline for comparative analysis.