The Cryosphere (Jan 2019)

Brief communication: Pancake ice floe size distribution during the winter expansion of the Antarctic marginal ice zone

  • A. Alberello,
  • A. Alberello,
  • M. Onorato,
  • M. Onorato,
  • L. Bennetts,
  • M. Vichi,
  • M. Vichi,
  • C. Eayrs,
  • K. MacHutchon,
  • A. Toffoli

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-41-2019
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13
pp. 41 – 48

Abstract

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The size distribution of pancake ice floes is calculated from images acquired during a voyage to the Antarctic marginal ice zone in the winter expansion season. Results show that 50 % of the sea ice area is made up of floes with diameters of 2.3–4 m. The floe size distribution shows two distinct slopes on either side of the 2.3–4 m range, neither of which conforms to a power law. Following a relevant recent study, it is conjectured that the growth of pancakes from frazil forms the distribution of small floes (D<2.3 m), and welding of pancakes forms the distribution of large floes (D>4 m).