An Analytical Model of Iceberg Drift

Abstract

AbstractThe fate of icebergs in the polar oceans plays an important role in Earth’s climate system, yet a detailed understanding of iceberg dynamics has remained elusive. Here, the central physical processes that determine iceberg motion are investigated. This is done through the development and analysis of an idealized model of iceberg drift. The model is forced with high-resolution surface velocity and temperature data from an observational state estimate. It retains much of the most salient physics, while remaining sufficiently simple to allow insight into the details of how icebergs drift. An analytical solution of the model is derived, which highlights how iceberg drift patterns depend on iceberg size, ocean current velocity, and wind velocity. A long-standing rule of thumb for Arctic icebergs estimates their drift velocity to be 2% of the wind velocity relative to the ocean current. Here, this relationship is derived from first principles, and it is shown that the relationship holds in the limit of small icebergs or strong winds, which applies for typical Arctic icebergs. For the opposite limit of large icebergs (length > 12 km) or weak winds, which applies for typical Antarctic tabular icebergs, it is shown that this relationship is not applicable and icebergs move with the ocean current, unaffected by the wind. The latter regime is confirmed through comparisons with observed iceberg trajectories near the Antarctic Peninsula.