Lagrangian analysis of sea-ice dynamics in the Arctic Ocean

Polar research

David G. Barber¹  Jennifer V. Lukovich¹  Sándor Szanyi² 

[1] Centre for Earth Observation Science Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources, University of Manitoba, 125 Dysart Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada;Institute for Mechanical SystemsETH Zürich, Tannenstrasse 3, CH-8092 Zürich, SwitzerlandCorrespondence

关键词: sea-ice dynamics;    FTLE;    Arctic Ocean;    Lagrangian diagnostics;    LAD;   

DOI  :  10.3402/polar.v35.30778

学科分类：自然科学（综合）

来源: Co-Action Publishing

【 摘 要 】

In this study, we present Lagrangian diagnostics to quantify changes in the dynamical characteristics of the Arctic sea-ice cover from 2006 to 2014. Examined in particular is the evolution in finite-time Lyapunov exponents (FTLEs), which monitor the rate at which neighbouring particle trajectories diverge, and stretching rates throughout the Arctic. In this analysis, we compute FTLEs for the Arctic ice-drift field using the 62.5 km daily sea-ice motion vector data from the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites Ocean and Sea Ice Satellite Application Facility. Results from the FTLE analysis highlight the existence of three distinct dynamical regions with strong stretching, captured by FTLE maxima or ridges. It is further shown that FTLE ridges are dominated by shear, with contributions from divergence in the Beaufort Sea. Localization of FTLE features following the 2012 record minimum in summertime sea-ice extent illustrates the emergence of an Arctic characterized by incr...

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC