Virtual Earth System Laboratory
Welcome to the Virtual Earth System Laboratory (VESL). Here, the Ice-sheet and Sea-level System Model (ISSM) team hosts simulations related to glaciers, ice sheets, sea level, and solid earth. The technology behind the lab is described in a GMD paper, see the following JPL news release for more info.
Our earth science simulations fall into one or more categories, which can be reached via the links below.
Welcome to the Virtual Earth System Laboratory! On this site, a sophisticated computer model called the Ice Sheet System Model (ISSM) is being made available to the public, allowing real-time simulations of the effects of environmental change on glaciers, ice sheets, sea level, and the geology of Earth.
Try out the simulations — and change their properties — using these links:
What's New
Check out our featured simulations and news
Glaciers Glaciers
Simulations of glacier flow and sensitivity to climate
Simulate the flow of glaciers into oceans and their response to climate change
Columbia Glacier
Columbia Glacier
Haig Glacier
Haig Glacier
Ice Sheets Ice Sheets
Simulations of ice sheet flow and sensitivity to climate and forcings
Simulate the flow of ice sheets across underlying surfaces and their sensitivity to changes in climate
Greenland Basal Friction
Greenland Ice Sheet
Ice Retreat Over Southwestern Greenland During The Last 12,000 Years
Ice Retreat Over Southwestern Greenland During The Last 12,000 Years
Sea Level Sea Level
Simulations of sea-level rise and contribution from the cryosphere
Simulate sea-level rise and how it is affected by changes in Earth's icy regions
Sensitivity Of Antarctic Ice Sheet
Sensitivity Of Antarctic Ice Sheet
Coastline Retreat From Sea-Level Rise
Sea Level: Amount and Extent of Ocean Water
Gradient Fingerprint Mapping
Sea Level "Fingerprints"
Global Relative Sea-Level Rise
Local Sea Level
Slowdown in Antarctic Mass Loss from Solid Earth and Sea-Level Feedbacks
Slowdown in Antarctica Contribution to Sea Level because of Ground Elastic Rebound
Polar Motion
Polar Motion
Solid Earth Deep Earth: Our Planet's Interior
Simulations of processes undergone by Earth's lithosphere and mantle
Simulate alterations in Earth's crust, and the underlying rock layer known as the mantle