A simple ice-ocean coupled model for ice drift in marginal ice zones
In: Journal of Marine Systems. Elsevier: Tokyo; Oxford; New York; Amsterdam. ISSN 0924-7963; e-ISSN 1879-1573, more
Also appears in:Nihoul, J.C.J.; Djenidi, S. (1991). Ice covered seas and ice edges: Physical, chemical and biological processes and interactions - Proceedings of the 22th International Liège Colloquium on Ocean Hydrodynamics. Journal of Marine Systems, 2. Elsevier Science Publishers: Amsterdam. 520 pp., more
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| Abstract |
An ice-ocean coupled model is used to examine the sensitivity of wind-driven ice motion in a partially ice covered sea to a number of parameters: air-ice drag coefficient, water and bottom drag, ice concentration and ice thickness. The model consists of a thin turbulent boundary layer beneath the ice overlaying an Ekman layer. The eddy coefficient of the Ekman layer is assumed to be uniform and wind speed dependent. At the sea bottom, a linear form of stress is used. The coupled system was solved algebraically to obtain ice and velocities for given winds. Results of the model show that the ice speed is most sensitive to the air-ice drag coefficient, but is not very sensitive to the water drag and eddy coefficient because these parameters control the distribution rather than the amount of the input wind energy. The effects of bottom friction are important for shallow waters at high wind speeds. A small (large) friction coefficient gives rise to a large (small) ice speed and turning angle. The internal ice stress can change the ice velocity appreciably. An example is given to show the change of ice speed and turning angle as the wind direction varies in an ice field with a horizontal pressure gradient. |
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