Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA) is the response of the solid Earth to past and present-day changes to glaciers and ice sheets.  It generates crustal displacements, sea-level changes, and changes to the Earth’s gravitational field. Recent developments in GIA modelling include increased consideration of lateral variations in Earth structure (i.e. three-dimensional Earth models) and coupled ice-sheet/Earth modelling.  Complementing these recent developments are ongoing investigations into paleo ice sheet extent, Earth structure, and paleo sea-level investigations.  Geodetic measurements of crustal motion and gravitational change include the GIA viscoelastic response to past changes, as well as the Earth’s elastic response to present-day ice mass changes.  

The outstanding source of uncertainty in projecting future global sea-level rise is the dynamical behavior of marine-based portions of the Antarctic ice sheet.  These ice sheets, grounded below present-day sea-level on bedrock that slopes down towards the interior, may be subject to a Marine Ice Sheet Instability (MISI) featuring a positive feedback cycle of thinning and grounding line retreat. Where glaciers and ice sheets are undergoing rapid change, the solid Earth response, which is comprised of both an elastic response to present-day change and viscoelastic response to past ice mass change, can affect the bedrock elevation relative to local sea-level and affect glacier flow dynamics, including grounding line migration, and thus affect global sea levels.  The structure and rheology of the interior of the Earth determines the rapidity of the Earth’s response and the strength of the potential interaction between vertical crustal displacement and ice sheet dynamics.

Registration Deadline: Registration will be first come, first served, and will end when capacity is reached, or on April 30, 2019: GIA Workshop Registration

Abstract Deadline: April 30: GIA Workshop Abstract Submission