Journal article

Three-dimensional imaging of waves and floes in the marginal ice zone during a cyclone

A Alberello, LG Bennetts, M Onorato, M Vichi, K MacHutchon, C Eayrs, BN Ntamba, A Benetazzo, F Bergamasco, F Nelli, R Pattani, H Clarke, I Tersigni, A Toffoli

Nature Communications | NATURE PORTFOLIO | Published : 2022

Abstract

The marginal ice zone is the dynamic interface between the open ocean and consolidated inner pack ice. Surface gravity waves regulate marginal ice zone extent and properties, and, hence, atmosphere-ocean fluxes and ice advance/retreat. Over the past decade, seminal experimental campaigns have generated much needed measurements of wave evolution in the marginal ice zone, which, notwithstanding the prominent knowledge gaps that remain, are underpinning major advances in understanding the region’s role in the climate system. Here, we report three-dimensional imaging of waves from a moving vessel and simultaneous imaging of floe sizes, with the potential to enhance the marginal ice zone database..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Awarded by ACE Foundation


Funding Acknowledgements

The expedition was funded by the South African National Antarctic Programme through the National Research Foundation. This work was motivated by the Antarctic Circumnavigation Expedition (ACE) and partially funded by the ACE Foundation and Ferring Pharmaceuticals. A.A., L.B. and A.T. were supported by the Australian Antarctic Science Programme (project 4434). A.A. acknowledges support from the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (PE19055). L.G.B. is supported by the Australian Research Council (FT190100404). L.G.B. and A.T. are supported by the Australian ResearchCouncil (DP200102828). M.O. was supported by the Simons Collaboration onWave Turbulence, Award No. 617006, and from the "Departments of Excellence 2018-2022" Grant awarded by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR, L.232/2016). M.O. acknowledges the EU H2020 FET Open BOHEME, Grant No. 863179. M.V. and K.M. were supported by the NRF SANAP contract UID118745. C.E. was supported under NYUAD Center for Global Sea Level Change project G1204. We are indebted to Captain Knowledge Bengu and the crew of the S.A. Agulhas II for their invaluable contribution to data collection. ERA5 reanalysis was obtained using Copernicus Climate Change Service Information. M.O. acknowledges B. GiuliNico for interesting discussions. A.A., A.T. and M.O. thank L. Fascette for technical support during the cruise.