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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2022
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ftuhuddersfieldc:oai:pure.atira.dk:publications/c398bd7a-489a-499f-b2c6-4d34e254a9ad 2023-05-15T14:24:48+02:00 Multi-scale satellite observations of Arctic sea ice:new insight into the life cycle of the floe size distribution Hwang, Byongjun (Phil) Wang, Yanan 2022-10-31 https://pure.hud.ac.uk/en/publications/c398bd7a-489a-499f-b2c6-4d34e254a9ad https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2021.0259 http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85137692633&partnerID=8YFLogxK eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Hwang , B & Wang , Y 2022 , ' Multi-scale satellite observations of Arctic sea ice : new insight into the life cycle of the floe size distribution ' , Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences , vol. 380 , no. 2235 , 20210259 . https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2021.0259 article 2022 ftuhuddersfieldc https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2021.0259 2023-01-22T13:41:27Z 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 Arctic Arctic Sea ice University of Huddersfield Research Portal Arctic Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 380 2235 |
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Open Polar |
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University of Huddersfield Research Portal |
op_collection_id |
ftuhuddersfieldc |
language |
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'. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Hwang, Byongjun (Phil) Wang, Yanan |
spellingShingle |
Hwang, Byongjun (Phil) 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 (Phil) Wang, Yanan |
author_sort |
Hwang, Byongjun (Phil) |
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 |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://pure.hud.ac.uk/en/publications/c398bd7a-489a-499f-b2c6-4d34e254a9ad https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2021.0259 http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85137692633&partnerID=8YFLogxK |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic Arctic Sea ice |
genre_facet |
Arctic Arctic Sea ice |
op_source |
Hwang , B & Wang , Y 2022 , ' Multi-scale satellite observations of Arctic sea ice : new insight into the life cycle of the floe size distribution ' , Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences , vol. 380 , no. 2235 , 20210259 . https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2021.0259 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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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1766297259970920448 |