Leaky Wave Modes and Edge Waves in Land-Fast Ice Split by Parallel Cracks

Abstract

In this paper we consider flexural-gravity waves propagating in a layer of water of constant depth limited by a vertical wall simulating a straight coastline. The water surface is covered with an elastic ice sheet of constant thickness. The ice sheet is split by one or two straight cracks parallel to the coastline, simulating the structure of land-fast ice with a refrozen lead. Analytical solutions of hydrodynamic equations describing the interaction of flexural-gravity waves with the ice sheet and cracks have been constructed and studied. In this paper, the amplification of the amplitude of incident waves between the shoreline and cracks was described depending on the incident angle of the wave coming from offshore. The constructed solutions allow the existence of edge waves propagating along the coastline and attenuated offshore. The energy of edge waves is trapped between the coastline and ice cracks. The application of the constructed solutions to describe wave phenomena observed in the land-fast ice of the Arctic shelf of Alaska is discussed.

Keywords

• flexural-gravity waves
• edge waves
• diffraction
• ice crack
• amplification