A nonstationary mathematical model of thermics and dynamics of the Antarctic ice sheet has been developed, taking into consideration the influence of long-term changes of climate.

The influence of climatic variations during the last 100 000 years on the temperature field within the ice sheet has been analysed. Information about climatic changes is based on paleographic data and isotope analyses of ice samples from bore holes at Vostok and Byrd stations.

The input data used include results from field surveys of accumulation, temperatures of upper surface, relief of the base and thickness of the ice sheet along the flowlines in the western and eastern parts of the ice sheet, as well as experimental data on ice rheology.

The computations show that traces of the climatic minimum that took place about 18 000 years ago are found in the temperature field of the Antarctic ice sheet.

The model developed has proved that warming of climate due to the “greenhouse effect” leads to significant changes in the thermal regime in the upper parts of the ice sheet, but will not lead to conditions threatening bottom layers.