Thermo-Hydrodynamics of Sea Ice Rubble

Abstract

Results of the field work performed in the end of April (2017–2019) on drifting ice in the Barents Sea region extended between the island Hopen and Bear Island are discussed. The field investigations included measurements of ice rubble sizes and shapes, vertical profiles of ice temperature and salinity inside ice rubble, uniaxial compressive strength of ice cores taken from ice rubble, and vertical permeability of ice rubble. The ocean heat fluxes below the drift ice were measured in several expeditions in the Barents Sea since 2005 including the filed works in 2017–2019. A mathematical model was formulated, and numerical simulations were performed to explain the formation of completely consolidated ice rubble. It is shown that the ocean heat flux, the initial macro-porosity and the initial draft of the rubble are the main parameters influencing the consolidation process when the heat fluxes from the ice into the air are small. Numerical simulations showed that complete consolidation of ice rubble may occur in one year or even several months when the ocean heat flux is of about 20 W/m2 and the initial draft of ice rubble is smaller 10 m.