Theory 84/Planetary/Ice sheets
Ice Sheet Size Is Accumulation Against Calving
The claim
Ice sheet extent is set by the ratio of accumulation to calving rate, so a cold planet with fast calving has small sheets.
01Mechanism
Ice grows by snowfall and shrinks by calving and melting; the ratio sets the equilibrium margin.
02Prediction
Extent should track the ratio.
03Refutation
Extent tracking temperature would remove calving.