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Sea ice formation on a very cold surface
Author(s) -
Smedsrud L. H.,
Saloranta T. M.,
Haugan P. M.,
Kangas T.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2002gl016786
Subject(s) - sea ice growth processes , geology , sea ice , sea ice thickness , clear ice , pancake ice , antarctic sea ice , arctic ice pack , fast ice , ice formation , ice divide , atmospheric sciences , oceanography
In this study laboratory experiments of sea ice formed on a vertical surface with initial temperature of −30 to −50°C are presented. The ice formation is rapid, and in 300 s >5 mm of sea ice is formed. Ice formation cooled and salinified the water, and induced a vertical down wards flow of ∼5 mm/s with a boundary layer about 5 mm thick. This ice has a structure with columnar crystals that have small circular cross sections (0.2–1.0 mm) and sea ice salinities are between 24 and 32. A simple model approach indicate that the thermal conductivity of such ice is lower than for other types of sea ice.