Dispersion Relations, Power Laws, and Energy Loss for Waves in the Marginal Ice Zone
Abstract
Analysis of field measurements of ocean surface wave activity in the marginal ice zone, from campaigns in the Arctic and Antarctic and over a range of different ice conditions, shows the wave attenuation rate with respect to distance has a power law dependence on the frequency with order between two and four. With this backdrop, the attenuation‐frequency power law dependencies given by three dispersion relation models are obtained under the assumptions of weak attenuation, negligible deviation of the wave number from the open water wave number, and thin ice. It is found that two of the models (both implemented in WAVEWATCH III®), predict attenuation rates that are far more sensitive to frequency than indicated by the measurements. An alternative method is proposed to derive dispersion relation models, based on energy loss mechanisms. The method is used to generate example models that predict power law dependencies that are comparable with the field measurements.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2018
- Source ID
- 10.1002/2018jc013776
Entities
People
- Johannes E. M. Mosig
- L. G. Bennetts
- M Doble
- M. A. Peter
- Michael Meylan
Organizations
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
- Office of Naval Research
- Polar Scientific
- Simons Foundation
- United States Naval Research Laboratory
- University of Adelaide
- University of Augsburg
- University of Newcastle
- University of Otago