Two-dimensional numerical simulations of mixing under ice keels

• DOI: 10.5194/tc-18-3159-2024
• Publication Date: 2024-07-05T11:33:38Z
• Authors: Sam De Abreu; Rosalie M. Cormier; Mikhail G. Schee; Varvara E. Zemskova; Erica Rosenblum; Nicolas Grisouard
• Keywords: Keel; Stratification (seeds)

Abstract. Changes in sea ice conditions directly impact the way wind transfers energy to Arctic Ocean. The thinning and increasing mobility of is expected change size speed ridges on underside floes, called keels, which cause turbulence upper-ocean stratification. However, effects changing keel characteristics below-ice mixing are difficult determine from sparse observations have not been investigated numerical or laboratory experiments. Here, for first time, we examine how an affect various stratifications using 16 two-dimensional simulations a moving through two-layer flow. We find that irreversible ocean characteristic depth over occurs each vary significantly across realistic parameter space sizes, speeds, stratifications. Furthermore, does increase monotonically with but instead depends emergence propagation vortices turbulence. These results suggest changes may significant Ocean highlight need more observational estimates characteristics.