Multi-scale satellite observations of Arctic sea ice: new insight into the life cycle of the floe size distribution
This study provides a new conceptional framework to understand the life cycle of the floe size distribution of Arctic sea ice and the associated processes. We derived the floe size distribution from selected multi-scale satellite imagery data acquired from different locations and times in the Arctic...
Published in: | Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences |
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2021.0259 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsta.2021.0259 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full-xml/10.1098/rsta.2021.0259 |
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crroyalsociety:10.1098/rsta.2021.0259 2024-09-15T18:35:16+00:00 Multi-scale satellite observations of Arctic sea ice: new insight into the life cycle of the floe size distribution Hwang, Byongjun Wang, Yanan Natural Environment Research Council 2022 http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2021.0259 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsta.2021.0259 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full-xml/10.1098/rsta.2021.0259 en eng The Royal Society https://royalsociety.org/journals/ethics-policies/data-sharing-mining/ Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences volume 380, issue 2235 ISSN 1364-503X 1471-2962 journal-article 2022 crroyalsociety https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2021.0259 2024-07-15T04:26:42Z This study provides a new conceptional framework to understand the life cycle of the floe size distribution of Arctic sea ice and the associated processes. We derived the floe size distribution from selected multi-scale satellite imagery data acquired from different locations and times in the Arctic. Our study identifies three stages of the floe size evolution during summer – ‘fracturing’, ‘transition’ and ‘melt/wave fragmentation’. Fracturing defines the initial floe size distribution ( N ∼ d −α , where d is floe size) formed from the spring breakup, characterized by the single power-law regime over d = 30–3000 m with α ≈ 2. The initial floe size distribution is then modified by various floe fragmentation processes during the transition period, which is characterized by ‘selective’ fragmentation of large floes ( d > 200–300 m) with variable α = 2.5–3.5 depending on the degree of fragmentation. As ice melt intensifies, the melt fragmentation expands the single power-law regime into smaller floes ( d = 70 m) with α = 2.4–3.8, while a significant reduction of small floes ( d < 30–40 m) occurs due to lateral melt. The shape factor shows an overall progression from elongated floes into rounded floes. The effects of scaling and wave-fracture are also discussed. This article is part of the theme issue 'Theory, modelling and observations of marginal ice zone dynamics: multidisciplinary perspectives and outlooks'. Article in Journal/Newspaper Sea ice The Royal Society Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 380 2235 |
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Open Polar |
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crroyalsociety |
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English |
description |
This study provides a new conceptional framework to understand the life cycle of the floe size distribution of Arctic sea ice and the associated processes. We derived the floe size distribution from selected multi-scale satellite imagery data acquired from different locations and times in the Arctic. Our study identifies three stages of the floe size evolution during summer – ‘fracturing’, ‘transition’ and ‘melt/wave fragmentation’. Fracturing defines the initial floe size distribution ( N ∼ d −α , where d is floe size) formed from the spring breakup, characterized by the single power-law regime over d = 30–3000 m with α ≈ 2. The initial floe size distribution is then modified by various floe fragmentation processes during the transition period, which is characterized by ‘selective’ fragmentation of large floes ( d > 200–300 m) with variable α = 2.5–3.5 depending on the degree of fragmentation. As ice melt intensifies, the melt fragmentation expands the single power-law regime into smaller floes ( d = 70 m) with α = 2.4–3.8, while a significant reduction of small floes ( d < 30–40 m) occurs due to lateral melt. The shape factor shows an overall progression from elongated floes into rounded floes. The effects of scaling and wave-fracture are also discussed. This article is part of the theme issue 'Theory, modelling and observations of marginal ice zone dynamics: multidisciplinary perspectives and outlooks'. |
author2 |
Natural Environment Research Council |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Hwang, Byongjun Wang, Yanan |
spellingShingle |
Hwang, Byongjun Wang, Yanan Multi-scale satellite observations of Arctic sea ice: new insight into the life cycle of the floe size distribution |
author_facet |
Hwang, Byongjun Wang, Yanan |
author_sort |
Hwang, Byongjun |
title |
Multi-scale satellite observations of Arctic sea ice: new insight into the life cycle of the floe size distribution |
title_short |
Multi-scale satellite observations of Arctic sea ice: new insight into the life cycle of the floe size distribution |
title_full |
Multi-scale satellite observations of Arctic sea ice: new insight into the life cycle of the floe size distribution |
title_fullStr |
Multi-scale satellite observations of Arctic sea ice: new insight into the life cycle of the floe size distribution |
title_full_unstemmed |
Multi-scale satellite observations of Arctic sea ice: new insight into the life cycle of the floe size distribution |
title_sort |
multi-scale satellite observations of arctic sea ice: new insight into the life cycle of the floe size distribution |
publisher |
The Royal Society |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2021.0259 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsta.2021.0259 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full-xml/10.1098/rsta.2021.0259 |
genre |
Sea ice |
genre_facet |
Sea ice |
op_source |
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences volume 380, issue 2235 ISSN 1364-503X 1471-2962 |
op_rights |
https://royalsociety.org/journals/ethics-policies/data-sharing-mining/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2021.0259 |
container_title |
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences |
container_volume |
380 |
container_issue |
2235 |
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1810478299959263232 |