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Modeling the breakup of tabular icebergs
Mark R England1,2, Till J W Wagner3, Ian Eisenman2
1Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, USA. mengland@ucsd.edu.
Science Advances
|December 17, 2020
Summary
Large Antarctic icebergs significantly impact Southern Ocean freshwater flux. This study introduces a new breakup model, improving iceberg meltwater distribution and ocean circulation simulations.
Area of Science:
- * Glaciology and Oceanography: Investigating the impact of Antarctic icebergs on Southern Ocean dynamics.
Background:
- * Antarctic icebergs contribute significantly to Southern Ocean freshwater flux, yet their breakup is poorly simulated in models.
- * Existing models often omit large icebergs or lack realistic breakup schemes, leading to inaccurate iceberg longevity and travel distances.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To introduce and optimize a novel iceberg fracturing scheme based on the "footloose mechanism" for large Antarctic icebergs.
- * To improve the representation of iceberg meltwater distribution and its subsequent effects on Southern Ocean circulation and stratification.
Main Methods:
- * Development of a new iceberg breakup scheme simulating fracturing based on the "footloose mechanism."
- * Optimization of breakup scheme parameters using an ocean state estimate and the Antarctic Iceberg Tracking Database.
- * Comparison of modeled iceberg trajectories and areas with observational data.
Main Results:
- * The inclusion of large icebergs with a realistic breakup scheme significantly alters simulated meltwater distribution.
- * Modeled iceberg behavior more closely matches observational data when the new breakup scheme is applied.
- * Improved simulation of iceberg meltwater has notable implications for Southern Ocean processes.
Conclusions:
- * Accurate simulation of large Antarctic iceberg breakup is crucial for understanding Southern Ocean freshwater input.
- * The "footloose mechanism" breakup scheme enhances the fidelity of iceberg modeling.
- * This improved modeling provides better insights into Southern Ocean circulation and stratification dynamics.
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