An analytical model for ice-edge upwelling |
| |
| Authors: | G J F Van Heijst |
| |
| Institution: | University of Utrecht, Institute of Meteorology and Oceanography , Princetonplein 5, Utrecht, The Netherlands |
| |
| Abstract: | Abstract This paper presents an analytical, two-dimensional model of the wind-induced homogeneous circulation near the edge of an ice pack floating on the ocean surface. It is shown that a vertical shear layer arises under the ice edge, by which the wind-driven geostrophic motion in the open ocean is matched to the flow region underneath the ice. As in coastal upwelling models, this shear layer consists of a thin E 1/2-layer inside a thicker E 1/4-layer (E being the Ekman number). Under certain conditions the shear layer produces a vertical mass flux from the bottom to the surface Ekman layer. Near the surface this upwelling flux is concentrated in the narrow E 1/2-layer. Comparison with observations of upwelling at the edge of a polar ice pack shows good agreement. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
|
|
