Geometrical constraints on the formation and melt of ridged sea ice ...
The Arctic ice pack consists of flat level ice, open water, and large ridge structures. During winter, ice thickens and is compacted into ridges, increasing the Arctic ice volume. In summer, ridging is accompanied by ice melt processes, which act to decrease ice volume. Current ice-atmosphere-ocean...
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
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University of British Columbia
2009
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| Online Access: | https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0052754 https://doi.library.ubc.ca/10.14288/1.0052754 |
| Summary: | The Arctic ice pack consists of flat level ice, open water, and large ridge structures. During winter, ice thickens and is compacted into ridges, increasing the Arctic ice volume. In summer, ridging is accompanied by ice melt processes, which act to decrease ice volume. Current ice-atmosphere-ocean models cannot reproduce the evolution of the ridged ice fraction, suggesting that ridging or melt may be inappropriately parameterized. To increase our understanding of ridged ice evolution, this thesis investigates the factors that constrain the ridging and melt processes. A unique ice draft distribution model is developed to simulate ice evolution in the Beaufort Sea, allowing direct comparison with observations of ice draft by moored sonar. Conventional ridging algorithms used in a 24-day simulation were found to overestimate the amount of very thick ice. Observations of level ice reveals that 75% of all ice floes are too small to create ridges of maximum draft. In addition, observed ridges have cusp-shaped ... |
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