Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2026
07:55
Flexural Rigidity Measurements of Biopolymers Using Gliding Assays
Published on: November 9, 2012
Ice flexure forced by internal wave packets in the arctic ocean.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|November 8, 1991
Summary
Internal waves in the Arctic Ocean caused significant ice flexure, measured by tiltmeters and strainmeters. This study quanties the ice
Area of Science:
- Oceanography
- Arctic Research
- Geophysics
Background:
- Internal waves are significant drivers of ocean mixing and energy transfer.
- Arctic sea ice dynamics are crucial for climate regulation.
- Diurnal internal bores have been observed near the Yermak Plateau.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure the flexure of Arctic sea ice.
- To quantify the impact of internal waves on sea ice.
- To correlate ice flexure with wave characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Deployment of tiltmeters and strainmeters on Arctic sea ice.
- Measurement of ice tilt, strain, vertical velocity, and surface displacement.
- Comparison of ice measurements with subsurface pycnocline displacement and current data.
Main Results:
- An oscillatory ice tilt of 36 microradians was recorded.
- This tilt corresponded to a surface vertical velocity of 16 micrometers per second and 3.5 mm surface displacement.
- Measured ice strain of 3 x 10(-7) indicated flexure, consistent with wave forcing.
Conclusions:
- Energetic internal waves can induce measurable flexure in Arctic sea ice.
- The observed ice flexure is consistent with the dynamics of internal bores.
- This research provides direct evidence of the interaction between internal waves and sea ice.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Coriolis Force
An accelerating particle experiences a force equal to the mass multiplied by the acceleration in an inertial frame of reference. Consider a particle in a non-inertial frame of reference, such as a sliding ball on a rotating table. The acceleration of the ball in this rotating reference frame is different than in the intertial frame, which modifies its equation of motion. The fictitious forces acting additionally on a rotating frame of reference alter Newton's Second Law expression. Centripetal...
01:16Flexural Stress
When analyzing bending in symmetric members, it's crucial to understand how stresses distribute when subjected to bending moments. This stress distribution is effectively described by applying fundamental mechanics and material science principles, particularly Hooke's Law for elastic materials.
Hooke's Law states that within the material's elastic limits, stress is directly proportional to strain. In a member experiencing a bending moment, the strain at any point is relative to its distance...
Hooke's Law states that within the material's elastic limits, stress is directly proportional to strain. In a member experiencing a bending moment, the strain at any point is relative to its distance...
01:06Forced Oscillations
When an oscillator is forced with a periodic driving force, the motion may seem chaotic. The motions of such oscillators are known as transients. After the transients die out, the oscillator reaches a steady state, where the motion is periodic, and the displacement is determined.
01:20Elastic Strain Energy for Shearing Stresses
As discussed in previous lessons, strain energy in a material is the energy stored when it is elastically deformed, a concept crucial in materials science and mechanical engineering. This energy results from the internal work done against the cohesive forces within the material. When a material undergoes shearing stress and corresponding shearing strain, the strain energy density, which is the energy stored per unit volume, is calculated. Within the elastic limit, where the stress is...
01:04Hydrostatic Pressure Force on a Curved Surface
Hydrostatic pressure on curved surfaces is a fundamental concept in fluid mechanics with broad applications in the civil engineering field. When fluid is in contact with a curved surface, as in a reservoir, dam, or storage tank, it exerts pressure that varies in magnitude and direction along the curved surface. To assess the total hydrostatic force exerted by the fluid on a curved structure, engineers typically isolate the fluid volume adjacent to the surface and analyze the forces acting on...
01:13Angle of Twist - Elastic Range
Consider a cylindrical shaft with a length denoted by L and a consistent cross-sectional radius referred to as r. This shaft undergoes a torque at the free end. The highest shearing strain within the shaft is directly proportional to the twist angle and the radial distance from the shaft axis. When the shaft behaves elastically, this shearing strain can be articulated using variables such as the applied torque, radial distance, the polar moment of inertia, and the modulus of rigidity. By...