Elisa Mantelli

I am a glaciologist with a deep interest for the physical processes that govern the dynamics of large ground-based ice masses like Greenland and Antarctica. Currently the main focus of my research is on fast ice flow phenomena, in particular ice streams. These narrow corridors of fast flowing ice display a variety of complex behaviours, partly driven by external forcings - like climate -, and partly internally driven. The more theoretical side of my work seeks to understand the physical processes that govern these behaviours, in particular the spontaneous formation of ice streams out of an otherwise uniform flow, as well as the effects of climatic forcing on the internal dynamics of ice streams. I am also interested in placing observational constraints on the onset of fast ice flow, in particular through the interpretation of englacial layers. I am also interested in ice sheet surface hydrology, in particular in self-organization of surface drainage networks and in snow hydrology.