The Spreading of a Buoyant Plume Beneath a Landfast Ice Cover

• DOI: 10.1175/jpo-d-14-0101.1
• Publication Date: 2014-11-18T20:59:26Z
• Authors: Jeremy L. Kasper; Thomas J. Weingar...
• Keywords: Iceberg; Entrainment (biomusicology); Ekman layer; Fast ice; Meltwater

Abstract Idealized numerical simulations using the Regional Ocean Modeling System demonstrate effects of an immobile landfast ice cover that is frictionally coupled to underice buoyant plume established by river discharge. The discharge rapidly increases and decreases over a 30-day period has maximum 6000 m 3 s −1 . This study examined response 26-km width one encompasses entire shelf width. model setting mimics spring conditions on Alaskan Beaufort Sea (ABS) shelf. In comparison with ice-free case subject same scenario, plumes are broader deeper, downwave freshwater flux substantially decreased delayed. Multiple anticyclonic bulges form in case, but only single, large bulge forms when present. These differences because frictional coupling between plume, which results Ekman-like boundary layer, subsurface velocity maximum, shears enhance vertical mixing entrainment. For partially ice-covered shelf, spreads across edge swift, buoyant, ice-edge jet, whose accords scale Yankovsky Chapman for surface-advected plume. fully water 60 km offshore period. steady completely at rate ~1.5 day extends ~95 after days.