Courant researchers mathematically model capsizing icebergs

Courant Researchers Study Capsizing Icebergs

Researchers at NYU's Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences have mathematically modeled the capsizing of icebergs, shedding light on the fluid dynamics behind this phenomenon and its connection to global warming.

The team, led by contributing researcher Alison Kim, a fourth-year Ph.D. student, found that icebergs capsize due to the unstable shapes they melt into. When ice floats in water, the submerged part melts faster than the top half due to water pressure and buoyancy, causing it to form unusual shapes and eventually capsize.

"All we do is put a piece of ice in the tank and by itself, and it starts capsizing,"

said Alison Kim. The researchers prepared ice blocks as cylinders and placed them in room temperature water to study this phenomenon. The capsizing of icebergs can have catastrophic consequences, including the potential to cause tsunamis and break up other icebergs.

The study provides new insights into the hydrodynamics behind icebergs capsizing, furthering our understanding of the impact of global warming on major bodies of water.

Author's summary: Researchers model capsizing icebergs to study global warming effects.

Washington Square News — 2025-10-17

Courant Researchers Study Capsizing Icebergs

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