Theoretical Calculations of Internal Wave Drag on Sea Ice.

Because of the density stratification in the upper part of the Arctic Ocean, the movement of pressure ridge keels through the mixed layer can create internal waves in the vicinity of the pycnocline. These waves transport energy away from the keels and thereby generate drag on the ice. The study defi...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Rigby,Fred
Other Authors: WASHINGTON UNIV SEATTLE DEPT OF ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 1974
Subjects:
Ice
Online Access:http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA003614
http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA003614
Description
Summary:Because of the density stratification in the upper part of the Arctic Ocean, the movement of pressure ridge keels through the mixed layer can create internal waves in the vicinity of the pycnocline. These waves transport energy away from the keels and thereby generate drag on the ice. The study defines the conditions under which wave drag could contribute significantly to the total water stress. The development of internal waves downstream from a semielliptical keel is described by a simple two-dimensional, two-layer ocean model. Results calculated from the model show the dependence of wave drag on keel depth, current speed, depth of the upper layer, and density change across the interface between the layers. Comparison of the relative magnitudes of form drag and wave drag suggests that wave drag is not negligible near large keels when the current is flowing strongly.