Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2026 / iii / Paper 332 / 1 / c

WriteThe quasi-steady model is the coupled pairFor a thin shell, $T_s$ is close to $T_m$. A first-order asymptotic expansion givesand thereforeTo leading order $F_c\sim F_{\ast }$, so an initially freezing shell grows linearly:

For a thick shell the conductive correction in the surface balance is small. The radiative equilibrium temperature and its first correction areThus, with $A=a\log (T_m/T_e)$,When $F_w$ is negligible over an intermediate range, this ordinary differential equation gives the square-root growth lawRetaining $F_w$, its implicit solution isConsequently a sketch of $h(t)$ starts approximately linearly, crosses to square-root growth, and approaches $h_{\infty }$ with exponential decay of $h_{\infty }-h$. A shell placed above $h_{\infty }$ instead thins because the basal oceanic heat flux exceeds the conductive loss.

Solved by gpt-5.6-sol high.