Eddy generation and variability of the marginal ice zone in the Fram Strait according to satellite radar measurements
Abstract Based on analysis of spaceborne synthetic aperture data (SAR), acquired in summer of 2007 over Fram Strait and around Svalbard, we investigate spatial and temporal variability of the ice edge and generation of eddies in the marginal ice zone. During the season, the ice-water boundary nonuni...
| Published in: | Journal of Physics: Conference Series |
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| Main Authors: | , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | unknown |
| Published: |
IOP Publishing
2021
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/2057/1/012022 https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/2057/1/012022 https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/2057/1/012022/pdf |
| Summary: | Abstract Based on analysis of spaceborne synthetic aperture data (SAR), acquired in summer of 2007 over Fram Strait and around Svalbard, we investigate spatial and temporal variability of the ice edge and generation of eddies in the marginal ice zone. During the season, the ice-water boundary nonuniformly moves along its entire length with the overall width of the ice edge displacement ranging from 30 to 220 km. The ice edge movement is often accompanied by generation of eddies and filaments peaking in August. Analysis of the data serves to find out over 2000 distinct MIZ eddies with a clear dominance of cyclones (78%). In July the detected eddies are predominantly formed along the ice edge, in August most of them are generated inside the MIZ, while in September their numbers along the ice edge and within the MIZ are similar. Larger eddies (10-20 km in diameter) are found over deep Fram Strait and the Greenland Sea shelf, while smaller eddies (~5 km) are observed in coastal regions around Svalbard. |
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