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Subsynoptic scale spatial variability of sea ice deformation in the western Weddell Sea during early summer
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 13:30 authored by Hutchings, JK, Petra HeilPetra Heil, Steer, A, Hibler III, WDIce Station Polarstern (ISPOL), deployed in the western Weddell Sea from November 2004 to January 2005, included a study of subsynoptic scale variability in sea ice velocity and deformation using an array of 24 buoys. Upon deployment, the ISPOL buoy array measured 70 km in both zonal and meridional extent and consisted of subarrays that resolved sea ice deformation on scales from 10 to 70 km. Across the ISPOL array, divergence varied and did not show a distinct coherent length scale. Spectral analysis of divergence and shear of subarrays revealed that deformation did not vary smoothly across the array. This indicates variability of internal ice stress on the scale of 10 km. Ice conditions within the ISPOL array encompassed two distinct regimes separated by shear along the continental shelf break. Differences in spectral power of the tidal and inertial bands across the two regions do not mirror expected differences due to spatial variability of tide-induced deformation on the shelf break. Instead, they indicate that the pack ice's internal stress behaved anisotropically on the scale of the shear zone (across the buoy array, 70 km).
History
Publication title
Journal of Geophysical Research-Space PhysicsVolume
117Article number
C01002Number
C01002Pagination
1-16ISSN
0148-0227Department/School
Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesPublisher
Amer Geophysical UnionPlace of publication
2000 Florida Ave Nw, Washington, USA, Dc, 20009Rights statement
Copyright 2012 American Geophysical Union.Repository Status
- Restricted