Towards bridging the gap between Antarctic subglacial boundary conditions and ice-sheet model parameterization

Abstract. The geology of Antarctica exerts a first-order control on ice-sheet dynamics by shaping the subglacial landscape and regulating basal friction, thermal profile, hydrology, and sediment distribution. These bed conditions influence where ice flows, how fast it moves, and how it responds to a changing climate. Yet most ice-sheet models incorporate geologic information only indirectly, typically as smoothed topography and simplified representations of basal processes. This incomplete capturing of geological information in ice-sheet models can be attributed to observational gaps, an incomplete community understanding of subglacial processes, and the need to simplify processes in ice-sheet models. As such, there is an opportunity to enhance communication and translation between geology and modeling disciplines, which will help improve our understanding of the thresholds and instabilities in Antarctic ice-sheet dynamics. Here, we discuss key subglacial geological conditions and processes and how they are used (or not used) in ice-sheet models. We highlight the disconnect between geological and physical interpretations of subglacial conditions and discuss possible strategies that will help bridge the gap between these disciplines as part of investigations of changing ice-sheet behavior.