Laboratory experiments on the frazil ice formation with application to the Arctic marine environment (scientific note)

• Main Authors: Zatsepin,Andrei G., Golovin,Pavel N.
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology/Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute 2001
• Subjects: Arctic; Memoirs of National Institute of Polar Research; Polar Research
• Online Access: https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_uri&item_id=2395; http://id.nii.ac.jp/1291/00002395/; https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_action_common_download&item_id=2395&item_no=1&attribute_id=18&file_no=1

Laboratory experiments on the frazil ice formation in the upper low saline water layer cooled from below by a more saline water layer indicate that frazil ice production is maximal when both layers are in turbulent state of motion. It is argued, that a considerable amount of frazil ice may be formed in the contact zone between fresh river water and cold marine water in the Arctic shelf zone. Frazil ice production in the fresh/salt water contact zone should be suspected as an important source of sediment incorporation into the Arctic surface ice cover.