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The sea ice dynamics of Terra Nova Bay and Ross Ice Shelf Polynyas during a spring and winter simulaton
Citation
Petrelli, P and Bindoff, NL and Bergamasco, A, The sea ice dynamics of Terra Nova Bay and Ross Ice Shelf Polynyas during a spring and winter simulaton, Journal of Geophysical Research, 113, (C09003) pp. 1-16. ISSN 0148-0227 (2008) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2008 American Geophysical Union
Official URL: http://www.agu.org/
Abstract
The Terra Nova Bay (TNB) and Ross Ice Shelf (RIS) polynyas are simulated using a
coupled atmosphere–sea ice model in winter 2002 and summer 2000. The atmospheric
component of the model is compared with Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) data and
shows a significantly increased skill over the ECMWF atmospheric variables. During
winter, the sea ice production in TNB is largely determined by katabatic winds. We
estimate the monthly production rate to be 8.7 km3/month of sea ice during winter. In early
summer (November), the katabatics are weaker and the sea ice production is more
influenced by the synoptic wind. The net sea ice production is weaker during November at
1.2 km3/month. The summer production is characterized by a diurnal cycle of melt and sea
ice formation. For small coastal polynyas, like TNB, it is important to resolve all the
glacier valleys accurately. Increasing the model resolution by a factor of five leads to a
doubling of the sea ice formation during winter simulations due to the point intensity of
the katabatics winds. For open coastal polynyas, like RIS polynya, sea ice production is
largely controlled by synoptic winds and resolution is less important. The RIS polynya
production is 61.3 km3 during winter and 19.1 km3 during November. These results are
comparable to RIS polynya observations. Although the TNB polynya has a smaller winter
sea ice production, the sea ice rate of growth per unit area is 1.6 times that of the RIS
polynya.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Polynyas , sea ice production , Terra Nova Bay |
| Research Division: | Earth Sciences |
| Research Group: | Oceanography |
| Research Field: | Physical Oceanography |
| Objective Division: | Expanding Knowledge |
| Objective Group: | Expanding Knowledge |
| Objective Field: | Expanding Knowledge in the Earth Sciences |
| UTAS Author: | Petrelli, P (Dr Paola Petrelli) |
| UTAS Author: | Bindoff, NL (Professor Nathan Bindoff) |
| ID Code: | 55406 |
| Year Published: | 2008 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 22 |
| Deposited By: | IASOS |
| Deposited On: | 2009-03-10 |
| Last Modified: | 2009-06-10 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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