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139717 - Drift of pancake ice floes in the winter Antarctic Marginal Ice Zone.pdf (11.41 MB)

Drift of pancake ice floes in the winter Antarctic marginal ice zone during polar cyclones

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posted on 2023-05-20, 15:41 authored by Alberello, A, Bennetts, L, Petra HeilPetra Heil, Eayrs, C, Vichi, M, MacHutchon, K, Onorato, M, Toffoli, A
High temporal resolution in situ measurements of pancake ice drift are presented, from a pair of buoys deployed on floes in the Antarctic marginal ice zone during the winter sea ice expansion, over 9 days in which the region was impacted by four polar cyclones. Concomitant measurements of wave‐in‐ice activity from the buoys are used to infer that the ice remained unconsolidated, and pancake ice conditions were maintained over at least the first 7 days. Analysis of the data shows (i) the fastest reported ice drift speeds in the Southern Ocean; (ii) high correlation of drift velocities with the surface wind velocities, indicating absence of internal ice stresses >100 km from the ice edge where remotely sensed ice concentration is 100%; and (iii) presence of a strong inertial signature with a 13 hr period. A Lagrangian free drift model is developed, including a term for geostrophic currents that reproduce the 13 hr period signature in the ice motion. The calibrated model provides accurate predictions of the ice drift for up to 2 days, and the calibrated parameters provide estimates of wind and ocean drag for pancake floes under storm conditions.

History

Publication title

JGR Oceans

Volume

125

Article number

e2019JC015418

Number

e2019JC015418

Pagination

1-16

ISSN

2169-9275

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Inc.

Place of publication

United States

Rights statement

Copyright 2020 American Geophysical Union

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Effects of climate change on Antarctic and sub-Antarctic environments (excl. social impacts)

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