Flexural bending and the evolution of melt ponds on sea ice
Abstract
The albedo of sea ice, particularly during the summer melt season, is a complex and evolving function of a number of factors within the local environment. We study the possible localisation of melt ponds through the elastic deformation of the floating ice sheet both experimentally and theoretically. We find that the extent of the melt pond and its dependance on the characteristic bending length, and the densities of the melt, ocean and ice. This is confirmed within the laboratory by measuring the evolution to a steady-state radius, along with the shape and elastic deformation caused by fluids ponded on a floating elastic (PDMS) sheet. By coupling the results of the steady-state experiments and analysis with a radiative model, we consider the evolution of the areal fraction throughout the melt season.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2012
- Bibcode:
- 2012AGUFM.C43A0569N
- Keywords:
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- 0750 CRYOSPHERE / Sea ice;
- 0798 CRYOSPHERE / Modeling