University of Tasmania
Browse
2008-Rintoul-Sok-Massom.pdf (3.49 MB)

Rapid development and persistence of a massive Antarctic sea ice tongue

Download (3.49 MB)
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-19, 22:31 authored by Rintoul, SR, Sokolov, S, Robert MassomRobert Massom
An extraordinary sea ice tongue developed near 85°E over a period of 30 days in April–May 2002. The ice tongue extended to the north more than 800 km from the surrounding ice edge and covered an area greater than 200,000 km2. Satellite measurements of ice extent and roughness characteristics demonstrate that the tongue persisted as a distinct feature throughout the winter. Remote sensing observations between 1978 and 2004 confirm that ice tongues occur frequently at this location, although the 2002 tongue was particularly pronounced. We show that ocean currents and winds conspire to favor the development of ice tongues at this location. Mean streamlines of the southern part of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current turn sharply to the north near 85°E after passing through the Princess Elisabeth Trough. The edge and northern limit of the ice tongue correspond well with the pattern of mean streamlines. Mean winds in April–May have a dominant southerly component in this location, favoring offshore advection of ice; year‐to‐year variability in the prominence of the tongue is largely caused by variations in the wind, with northerly (southerly) anomalies inhibiting (promoting) development of a sea ice tongue. Ice drift is strongly northward along the axis of the tongue, suggesting the feature is formed by advection of ice from the south rather than by in situ thermodynamic ice formation. The northward current and sea ice tongue at 85°E are associated with higher biomass at all trophic levels than observed elsewhere in east Antarctica.

History

Publication title

Journal of Geophysical Research

Volume

113

Issue

C7

Article number

C07045

Number

C07045

Pagination

1-16

ISSN

0148-0227

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

Amer Geophysical Union

Place of publication

2000 Florida Ave Nw, Washington, USA, Dc, 20009

Rights statement

Copyright 2008 American Geophysical Union

Repository Status

  • Open

Socio-economic Objectives

Climate variability (excl. social impacts); Expanding knowledge in the physical sciences

Usage metrics

    University Of Tasmania

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC