Brief communication: Pancake ice floe size distribution during the winter expansion of the Antarctic marginal ice zone
oleh: A. Alberello, A. Alberello, M. Onorato, M. Onorato, L. Bennetts, M. Vichi, M. Vichi, C. Eayrs, K. MacHutchon, A. Toffoli
| Format: | Article |
|---|---|
| Diterbitkan: | Copernicus Publications 2019-01-01 |
Deskripsi
<p>The size distribution of pancake ice floes is calculated from images acquired during a voyage to the Antarctic marginal ice zone in the winter expansion season. Results show that 50 % of the sea ice area is made up of floes with diameters of 2.3–4 m. The floe size distribution shows two distinct slopes on either side of the 2.3–4 m range, neither of which conforms to a power law. Following a relevant recent study, it is conjectured that the growth of pancakes from frazil forms the distribution of small floes (<span class="inline-formula"><i>D</i><2.3</span> m), and welding of pancakes forms the distribution of large floes (<span class="inline-formula"><i>D</i>>4</span> m).</p>