Tide-induced ice cover deformations on the northeastern shelf of Sakhalin Island

The ice drift data obtained with the Furuno radar using a special methodology simultaneously at seven fixed points around the Molikpaq oil-drilling platform on the northeastern shelf of Sakhalin Island in the period from May 14 to 28, 2003 are analyzed. It is shown that at different distances from the shore significant variations are observed both in the alongshore and, especially, transverse components of the tidal seaice drift, which are responsible for the ice cover deformation, whose indices are of a substantial magnitude. The divergence has the maximum positive values (the ice opening is observed) at comparatively low drift velocities of southern bearings soon after the tidal flow direction changed. The ice cover compression was accordingly observed under opposite conditions. The dependence of deformation indices on the tidal cycle phase is well agreed with the results earlier obtained at the coastal Odoptu radar station (RS), where the measurements were carried out using a similar methodology under alike physico-geographic conditions. A steady character of the results obtained allows forecasting the tide-induced ice cover extension and compression, which is of a practical value for providing the ship operations in the region of the Molikpaq platform in the ice season.     

Modeling of freezing and melting hummocks on shelf of Sakhalin Island

In this paper, results of numerical experiments based on the one-dimensional thermodynamic model of hummock formations evolution, which has been developed by the authors, are analysed. This model has been used for computation of relative rates of freezing and melting of hummocks in typical conditions of the northeastern shelf of Sakhalin Island; then obtained values were compared with the plain sea ice cover parameters simulated by using climate and actual meteorological data. It is shown that obtained results well comply with observational data collected during expeditions in this region.     

Water Circulation Off the Northeastern Coast of Sakhalin during the Passage of Three Types of Deep Cyclones over the Sea of Okhotsk

Based on the numerical simulation of water circulation in the Sea of Okhotsk in 1986 to 2015, the impact of deep cyclones on the circulation off the northeastern coast of Sakhalin is studied. The circulation in the Sea of Okhotsk is simulated with the COSMO-Ru-INMOM-CICE model configuration, where the COSMO-Ru and INMOM resolve explicitly the mesoscale atmosphere and ocean dynamics and the CICE resolves the ice cover evolution. The extreme atmospheric events associated with the intensive cyclone activity over the Sea of Okhotsk during the cold season are classified. It is found that high velocity is typical of the cyclones coming to the sea from Sakhalin, and wind speed on the periphery is higher for the cyclones coming to the Sea of Okhotsk from the south and southwest. The analysis of water circulation response off the northeastern coast of Sakhalin demonstrates that the meridional current velocity on the shelf increased by several times from the sea surface to the bottom for all types of cyclones. On the edge of the shelf, southern currents intensified in the surface and bottom layers during the passage of cyclones and at the intermediate depths during the passage of fronts. On the continental slope, southern currents intensified in the surface, intermediate, and bottom layers depending on the type of extreme events.

     

Estimation of Sea Ice Drift on the Sea of Okhotsk Shelves Based on Satellite Data

The features of sea ice drift in the Sea ofOkhotsk are studied using Terra and Aqua satellite MODIS spectroradiometer data. The spatial heterogeneity of sea ice drift in the areas of hydrocarbon fields on the Magadan and Sakhalin shelves is analyzed.     

Hydrodynamic processes on the Sakhalin shelf in the coastal Piltun area of the grey whale feeding and their correlation with atmospheric circulation

Discussed are the results of long-term hydrophysical studies carried out on the northeastern shelf of Sakhalin Island in the area of summer-autumn fattening of the Okhotsk-Korea population of grey whales. It is demonstrated that the inflow of water desalinated by the Amur River runoff and the coastal upwelling caused by the summer monsoon are of great importance for the hydrological regime in the given area. These phenomena are interrelated and depend on interannual variations of atmoispheric circulation. Presented are the results of studying the parameters of internal waves obtained using the anchored autonomous vertical system of measurement. Measured are the velocities of the orbital movement of water particles in the propagating nonlinear internal waves and the respective vertical displacements of water layers. Demonstrated are the peculiarities of the thermohaline structure of water under the slick formed on the sea surface by the internal wave.     

Analysis of currents near the Sakhalin southeastern coast from instrumental measurements

Field experimental materials on the sea current measurements, carried out by the Sakhalin Research Institute for Fishery and Oceanography in September–December 2004 near the Sakhalin southeastern coast, are analyzed. The experiment included the installation of two coastal and one more remote autonomous buoy stations. The tidal flows in this region, unlike those on the northeastern shelf of the island, are relatively small and do not play a significant role in the dynamics of the coastal zone. The character of currents at coastal stations is determined primarily by their response to the wind effect. In particular, significant water temperature falls of 6–8°C, observed from 2–3 days to a week, are indicative of coastal upwelling induced by the wind. During the passage of a deep cyclone that caused a storm wave 1 m high, the flow velocity at coastal stations increased up to 1.5 knots. At a more remote station, in the region of Cape Svobodnyi, the flow character was determined by the East Sakhalin Current, whose autumn intensification was observed in the second ten-day period of October. It manifested itself in a sharp intensification of the flow, directed southward and southeastward throughout the entire water column, which practically was not pronounced at the coastal stations.     

Near-shore upwelling on the Sakhalin shelf

The results of long-term oceanographic observations at shallow depths near the northeastern and northern Sakhalin edge are presented. It is shown that the near-shore upwelling can be produced by along-shore southerlies and tidal events. Upwelling on the northern Sakhalin shelf is also a consequence of southerlies, but on the lee shore. Temporal and spatial scales of the phenomenon depend on the wind strength and duration. Northern winds are capable of producing opposite phenomenon, downwelling, when warm and freshened water fills the near-shore zone.     

Ventilation of the Sea of Okhotsk water in summer

Data of field observations are indicative of the periodic appearance of intrusions of cold water at depths of 250–400 m near the northeastern Sakhalin continental slope in summer. Monitoring of the oceanographic conditions in the area shows that the density contrast between shelf and offshore waters persists throughout the year. The static instability of the water column in the vicinity of shelf break and the continental slope is a permanent feature of the area during the year and is the main cause of ventilation of the Sea of Okhotsk water in summer. The energy of tides can be an additional drive for the penetration of shelf waters into the sea interior and modulate the ventilation process.     

Relationship Between Arctic Sea Ice Thickness Distribution and Climate of China

Based on the simulated ice thickness data from 1949 to 1999, monthly mean temperature data from 160 stations, and monthly mean 1°×1° precipitation data reconstructed from 749 stations in China from 1951 to 2000, the relationship between the Arctic sea ice thickness distribution and the climate of China is analyzed by using the singular value decomposition method. Climate patterns of temperature and precipitation are obtained through the rotated empirical orthogonal function analysis. The results are as follows. (1) Sea ice in Arctic Ocean has a decreasing trend as a whole, and varies with two major periods of 12-14 and 16-20 yr, respectively. (2) When sea ice is thicker in central Arctic Ocean and Beaufort-Chukchi Seas, thinner in Barents-Kara Seas and Baffin Bay-Labrador Sea, precipitation is less in southern China, Tibetan Plateau, and the north part of northeastern China than normal, and vice versa. (3) When sea ice is thinner in the whole Arctic seas, precipitation is less over the middle and lower reaches of Yellow River and north part of northeastern China, more in Tibetan Plateau and south part of northeastern China than normal, and the reverse is also true. (4) When sea ice is thinner in central Arctic Ocean, East Siberian Sea, Beaufort-Chukchi Seas, and Greenland Sea; and thicker in Baffin Bay-Labrador Sea, air temperature is higher in northeastern China, southern Tibetan Plateau, and Hainan Island than normal. (5) When sea ice is thicker in East Siberian Sea 5 months earlier, thinner in Baffin Bay-Labrador Sea 7-15 months earlier, air temperature is lower over the north of Tibetan Plateau and higher in the north part of northwestern China than normal, and a reverse correlation also exists.     

Relationship between Arctic sea ice thickness distribution and climate of China

Based on the simulated ice thickness data from 1949 to 1999,monthly mean temperature data from 160 stations,and monthly mean 1 × 1 precipitation data reconstructed from 749 stations in China from 1951 to 2000,the relationship between the Arctic sea ice thickness distribution and the climate of China is analyzed by using the singular value decomposition method.Climate patterns of temperature and precipitation are obtained through the rotated empirical orthogonal function analysis.The results are as follows.(1) Sea ice in Arctic Ocean has a decreasing trend as a whole,and varies with two major periods of 12-14 and 16-20 yr,respectively.(2) When sea ice is thicker in central Arctic Ocean and Beaufort-Chukchi Seas,thinner in Barents-Kara Seas and Baffin Bay-Labrador Sea,precipitation is less in southern China,Tibetan Plateau,and the north part of northeastern China than normal,and vice versa.(3) When sea ice is thinner in the whole Arctic seas,precipitation is less over the middle and lower reaches of Yellow River and north part of northeastern China,more in Tibetan Plateau and south part of northeastern China than normal,and the reverse is also true.(4) When sea ice is thinner in central Arctic Ocean,East Siberian Sea,Beaufort-Chukchi Seas,and Greenland Sea;and thicker in Baffin Bay-Labrador Sea,air temperature is higher in northeastern China,southern Tibetan Plateau,and Hainan Island than normal.(5) When sea ice is thicker in East Siberian Sea 5 months earlier,thinner in Baffin Bay-Labrador Sea 7-15 months earlier,air temperature is lower over the north of Tibetan Plateau and higher in the north part of northwestern China than normal,and a reverse correlation also exists.     

渤海的海冰数值预报

根据渤海气候和冰情特点,在已有海冰模式研究基础上,提出模拟海冰增长、消融和漂移的动力－热力学模式。模式冰厚分布由开阔水、平整冰和堆积冰三要素表示。该模式已与数值天气预报模式、大气边界层模式、潮流模式联结,并于１９９０年到１９９６年在国家海洋环境预报中心进行渤海和北黄海冰情预报。其数值预报产品包括冰厚、密度集、冰速、冰外缘线、冰脊参数、局地冰厚以及接近石油平台的冰漂移轨迹等,传送到国家海洋预报台和渤海石油公司等有关用户。为了客观评价模式和检验预报结果,在逐日预报后进行统计检验。本文概述渤海冰情、卫星遥感应用、冰模式及其预报结果和检验。     

Tides and Turbulent Mixing in the North of Taiwan Island

Microstructure and hydrological profiles were collected along two cross-shelf sections from the deep slope to the shallow water in the north of Taiwan Island in the summer of 2006. While the tidal currents on the shelf were dominated by the barotropic tide with the current ellipse stretched across the shelf, significant internal tides were observed on the slope. The depth-mean turbulent kinetic energy(TKE) dissipation rate on the shelf was 10~(-6)W kg-1, corresponding to a diapycnal diffusivity of 10~(-2)m~2s~(-1). The depth-mean TKE dissipation rate on the slope was 1 × 10~(-7)W kg-1, with diapycnal diffusivity of 3.4 × 10~(-4)m~2s~(-1). The shear instability associated with internal tides largely contributed to the TKE dissipation rate on the slope from the surface to 150 m, while the enhanced turbulence on the shelf was dominated by tidal or residual current dissipations caused by friction in the thick bottom boundary layer(BBL). In the BBL, the Ekman currents associated with the northeastward Taiwan Warm Current were identified, showing a near-bottom velocity spiral, which agreed well with the analytical bottom Ekman solution.     

Detection of the Labrador current using ice‐floe movement in synthetic aperture radar imagery and ice beacon trajectories

Abstract

Two sets of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images were collected, as part of the Labrador Ice Margin Experiment (LIMEX), over the Newfoundland Shelf on consecutive days in April 1990. Ice movement is detected from the displacement of ice floes between the two images sets and compared with ice drift data from six satellite‐tracked beacons and in situ CTD data. The ice velocity data derived from the SAR images and the beacons are used to generate a map of ice velocity vectors. A streamfunction map of ocean currents is produced by removing the direct wind‐driven component in the ice movement data, and by using an objective analysis method. The resulting flow pattern contains the offshore branch of the Labrador Current with a speed of 30 to 50 cm s^?1. The current closely follows the shelf break topography from north to south through the study area (47–50.5°N) as a continuous flow. In comparison, if the wind effect was not removed from the ice velocity data, the calculated Labrador Current north of 50°N would stray from the shelf break. The position of the current axis and the current speed derived from the ice movement data are in good agreement with the geostrophic current computed from the CTD data.     

Generation and atmospheric heat exchange of coastal polynyas in the Weddell Sea

The forcing mechanisms for Antarctic coastal polynyas and the thermodynamic effects of existing polynyas are studied by means of an air-sea-ice interaction experiment in the Weddell Sea in October and November 1986.Coastal polynyas develop in close relationship to the ice motion and form most rapidly with offshore ice motion. Narrow polynyas occur frequently on the lee side of headlands and with strong curvature of the coastline. From the momentum balance of drifting sea ice, a forcing diagram is constructed, which relates ice motion to the surface-layer wind vector v _z and to the geostrophic ocean current vector c _g . In agreement with the data, wind forcing dominates when the wind speed at a height of 3 m exceeds the geostrophic current velocity by a factor of at least 33. This condition within the ocean regime of the Antarctic coastal current usually is fulfilled for wind speeds above 5 m/s at a height of 3 m.Based on a nonlinear parameter estimation technique, optimum parameters for free ice drift are calculated. Including a drift dependent geostrophic current in the ice/water drag yields a maximum of explained variance (91%) of ice velocity.The turbulent heat exchange between sea ice and polynya surfaces is derived from surface-layer wind and temperature data, from temperature changes of the air mass along its trajectory and from an application of the resistance laws for the atmospheric PBL. The turbulent heat flux averaged over all randomly distributed observations in coastal polynyas is 143 W/m². This value is significantly different over pack ice and shelf ice surfaces, where downward fluxes prevail. The large variances of turbulent fluxes can be explained by variable wind speeds and air temperatures. The heat fluxes are also affected by cloud feedback processes and vary in time due to the formation of new ice at the polynya surface.Maximum turbulent fluxes of more than 400 W/m² result from strong winds and low air temperatures. The heat exchange is similarly intense in a narrow zone close to the ice front, when under weak wind conditions, a local circulation develops and cold air associated with strong surface inversions over the shelf ice is heated above the open water.     

A tide in the operational model for short-range forecast of current velocity and sea level in the Barents and White seas

The operational model for the short-range forecast of velocity of currents and the sea level of the Barents and White seas is introduced into the automatic system of operational data processing of Hydrometcenter of Russia and works in the operational mode. The tidal block of the model is verified using eight major harmonics of the tide in the Barents and White seas. It is revealed that the model simulates adequately the large-scale features of tidal circulation in the Barents Sea. The model verification is based on the comparison between the diagnostic computation of the total sea level and the observational data on the sea level from the automatic buoy station. Demonstrated is a good agreement between the total sea level computations and the observations in the area of Teriberka settlement. The model takes account of the ice presence and simulates the ice effects on the currents. It is established that the ice presence affects significantly the amplitude and phase of tidal waves, especially in coastal regions.     

Drift of icebergs and ice fields in the northeastern part of the Barents Sea

Considered is the drift of 10 icebergs and 18 ice fields in the northeastern part of the Barents Sea from late May to September 2009. The drift speed is estimated by GPS measurements of geographic coordinates, and the wind, using the air pressure field. The drift variability in the range of synoptic and intraseasonal variability is analyzed by the vector-algebraic method based on the model of the random Euclidean vector. The conjugacy of the drift with the wind is represented by the indices of vector regression (the theory of A.M. Obukhov) and vector correlation. Ice fields differ from icebergs by the high velocities of drift, significant variability, and higher correlation with the wind (0.85–0.99 for fields and 0.78–0.91 for icebergs). The wind and nonwind components of the drift are singled out by the Watanabe-Gudkovich correlation method. Wind coefficients and angles of deviation for the wind drift component amounted to 0.016–0.023 and ?6°…+9° for fields and 0.010–0.015 and 10°–15° for icebergs. The cyclonic circulation is developed in the area of permanent surface currents (of the nonwind nature).     

A 3-D model for the Antarctic ice sheet: a sensitivity study on the glacial-interglacial contrast

On the longer climatic time scales, changes in the elevation and extent of the Antarctic ice sheet have an important role in modulating global atmospheric and oceanographic processes, and contribute significantly to world-wide sea levels. In this paper, a 3-D time-dependent thermomechanical model for the entire ice sheet is presented, that is subsequently used to examine the effects of glacial-interglacial shifts in environmental boundary conditions on its geometry. The model takes into account a coupled ice shelf, grounding-line dynamics, basal sliding and isostatic bed adjustment and considers the fully coupled velocity and temperature fields. Ice flow is calculated on a fine mesh (40 km horizontal grid size and 10 layers in the vertical) for grounded and floating ice and a stress transition zone in between at the grounding line, where all stress components contribute in the effective stress in the flow law. There is free interaction between ice sheet and ice shelf, so that the entire geometry is internally generated. A simulation of the present ice sheet reveals that the model is able to yield realistic results. A series of sensitivity experiments are then performed, in which lower temperatures, reduced accumulation rates and lower global sea level stands are imposed, either singly or in combination. By comparing results of pairs of experiments, the effects of each of these environmental changes can be determined. In agreement with glacial-geological evidence, we found that the most pronounced changes show up in the West Antarctic ice sheet configuration. They appear to be essentially controlled by variations in eustatic sea level, whereas typical glacial-interglacial changes in temperature and ice deposition rates tend to balance one another. These findings support the hypothesis that the Antarctic ice sheet basically follows glacial episodes in the northern hemisphere by means of sea-level teleconnections. Grounding occurs more readily in the Weddell sea than in the Ross sea and long time scales appear to be involved: it may take up to 30–40000 years for these continental shelf areas to become completely grounded after an initial stepwise perturbation in boundary conditions. According to these reconstructions, a steady state Antarctic ice sheet may contribute some 16 m to global sea level lowering at maximum glaciation.     

Evaluation of Arctic Sea Ice Drift and its Relationship with Near-surface Wind and Ocean Current in Nine CMIP6 Models from China

The simulated Arctic sea ice drift and its relationship with the near-surface wind and surface ocean current during 1979-2014 in nine models from China that participated in the sixth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project(CMIP6)are examined by comparison with observational and reanalysis datasets.Most of the models reasonably represent the Beaufort Gyre(BG)and Transpolar Drift Stream(TDS)in the spatial patterns of their long-term mean sea ice drift,while the detailed location,extent,and strength of the BG and TDS vary among the models.About two-thirds of the models agree with the observation/reanalysis in the sense that the sea ice drift pattern is consistent with the near-surface wind pattern.About the same proportion of models shows that the sea ice drift pattern is consistent with the surface ocean current pattern.In the observation/reanalysis,however,the sea ice drift pattern does not match well with the surface ocean current pattern.All nine models missed the observational widespread sea ice drift speed acceleration across the Arctic.For the Arctic basin-wide spatial average,five of the nine models overestimate the Arctic long-term(1979-2014)mean sea ice drift speed in all months.Only FGOALS-g3 captures a significant sea ice drift speed increase from 1979 to 2014 both in spring and autumn.The increases are weaker than those in the observation.This evaluation helps assess the performance of the Arctic sea ice drift simulations in these CMIP6 models from China.     

Seasonal variations of oceanic conditions near the southeastern coast of Sakhalin Island

Seasonal variations of hydrological conditions in the area adjoining the southeastern coast of Sakhalin Island are described based on the analysis of monthly mean temperature and salinity obtained over standard oceanic sections Makarov-Cape Georgii and Cape Svobodny-the sea and from nine oceanic surveys. The Poronai River runoff that promotes the formation of a warm surface layer with low salinity largely influences the water area of Terpeniya Bay in the northern part of the area studied. In spring, these waters primarily spread southward along the coast; in summer, they flow southeastward, forming a weak vortex structure at 144° E. In the fall, major changes occur below 20 m, where waters of the cold intermediate layer are replaced by warmer waters (4–6°C) of low salinity connected with the Amur River runoff. The destruction of the CIL core near the shelf edge at depths of about 100 m resulting from the fall intensification of the East Sakhalin Current is pronounced in the southern, abyssal part of the region. The coastal area is covered by waters with salinity below 32‰ connected with the Amur River runoff. The volume of low-salinity waters coming through the Cape Svobodny-the sea section into the southern part of the Sea of Okhotsk is estimated at 3000 km³ taking into account instrumental measurements of flow rates.     

A continuous simulation of global ice volume over the past 1 million years with 3-D ice-sheet models

Sea-level records show large glacial-interglacial changes over the past million years, which on these time scales are related to changes of ice volume on land. During the Pleistocene, sea-level changes induced by ice volume are largely caused by the waxing and waning of the large ice sheets in the Northern Hemisphere. However, the individual contributions of ice in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere are poorly constrained. In this study, for the first time a fully coupled system of four 3-D ice-sheet models is used, simulating glaciations on Eurasia, North America, Greenland and Antarctica. The ice-sheet models use a combination of the shallow ice and shelf approximations to determine sheet, shelf and sliding velocities. The framework consists of an inverse forward modelling approach to derive a self-consistent record of temperature and ice volume from deep-sea benthic δ¹⁸O data over the past 1 million years, a proxy for ice volume and temperature. It is shown that for both eustatic sea level and sea water δ¹⁸O changes, the Eurasian and North American ice sheets are responsible for the largest part of the variability. The combined contribution of the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets is about 10 % for sea level and about 20 % for sea water δ¹⁸O during glacial maxima. However, changes in interglacials are mainly caused by melt of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, with an average time lag of 4 kyr between melt and temperature. Furthermore, we have tested the separate response to changes in temperature and sea level for each ice sheet, indicating that ice volume can be significantly influenced by changes in eustatic sea level alone. Hence, showing the importance of a simultaneous simulation of all four ice sheets. This paper describes the first complete simulation of global ice-volume variations over the late Pleistocene with the possibility to model changes above and below present-day ice volume, constrained by observations of benthic δ¹⁸O proxy data.