Numerical Modelling of Iceberg Towing for Water Supplies—A Case Study
Abstracts The towing of unprotected icebergs from the Antarctic continent (66° S.) to latitude 38° S. has been simulated using an explicit hydrodynamic model and an extended two-dimensional melting model. It was found that nominal towing accelerations in excess of 2 × 10 -5 m s -2 were required to d...
| Published in: | Journal of Glaciology |
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| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press (CUP)
1978
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| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s002214300002092x https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S002214300002092X |
| Summary: | Abstracts The towing of unprotected icebergs from the Antarctic continent (66° S.) to latitude 38° S. has been simulated using an explicit hydrodynamic model and an extended two-dimensional melting model. It was found that nominal towing accelerations in excess of 2 × 10 -5 m s -2 were required to deliver ice over this route in most circumstances, and minimum energy consumptions were obtained at accelerations around 10 -4 m s -2 . Unprotected icebergs could be delivered with about 50% yield to latitude 38° S., but the rate of deterioration in the warm waters indicates that protection would be required for longer journeys. The towing simulation was most sensitive to north-south current components, the total towing distance and the rate of iceberg deterioration. Efforts directed towards locating suitable icebergs in the region 50° S. to 60° S., and towards increasing knowledge of the changing current patterns in the Southern Ocean would be most valuable, as would a knowledge of the mechanisms and rates of deterioration of icebergs in warm seas. |
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