Spatial and Temporal Variability of the Fast Ice in the Russian Arctic

• Main Author: Antonova, Sofya
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Arctic; Laptev Sea; laptev; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/27889/; https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/27889/1/2011_Antonova-Sofya_MSc-Thesis.pdf

Fast ice (sea ice, which is fastened to the coast or to the bottom) is a foremost element of the coastal system of both hemispheres. It forms an important interface between coast and pack ice/ocean where key high-latitude interactions between atmosphere and ocean occur. Remote sensing observations are extremely important in fast ice studies because of the difficulties to directly measure its extent in severe polar conditions. Processes driving the fast ice development are still not well understood. In this thesis the spatial and temporal variability of the landfast ice in the southeastern Laptev Sea was described. The fast ice information used in this study was derived manually from the active microwave satellite imagery covering a period of eight seasons (2003-2011). Furthermore, the possible linkages between the fast ice extent and the large-scale atmospheric circulation and the local wind pattern as well as the bathymetry of the study area were investigated. It was found that the bathymetry strongly affects the position of the fast ice edge and can therefore be assumed to be one of the key parameters controlling extent and shape of the fast ice. The impact of local winds on the fast ice development was considered for one season. Investigation reveals that offshore wind plays an important role during the fast ice formation in the beginning of winter. Smallscale variability in the fast ice extent during its fully developed stage might be also explained by winds. The large-scale atmospheric circulation exerts an influence on the fast ice extent as well.