Wave-ice interaction in the North-West Barents Sea

TL;DR

This paper analyzes wave-ice interactions in the North-West Barents Sea, presenting field data and a damping model that explains how wave frequencies are affected by ice, revealing complex wave dynamics in the marginal ice zone.

Contribution

It introduces a wave damping model for broken ice and applies it to interpret field measurements in the North-West Barents Sea's MIZ.

Findings

Higher frequency waves experience stronger damping in ice.

Wave energy decreases with distance from the ice edge.

Different wave spectra are observed at close locations within the MIZ.

Abstract

The results of field work on drift ice during wave propagation are analyzed and presented. The field work was performed in the Barents Sea, and the main focus of the paper is on wave processes in the MIZ. A model of wave damping in broken ice is formulated and applied to interpret the field work results. It is confirmed that waves of higher frequencies are subjected to stronger damping when they propagate below the ice. This reduces the frequency of most energetic wave with increasing distance from the ice edge. Difference of wave spectra measured in two relatively close locations within the MIZ is discussed. The complicated geometry and dynamics of the MIZ in the North-West Barents Sea allow waves from the Atlantic Ocean and south regions of the Barents Sea to penetrate into different locations of the MIZ.