Storfjorden (Svalbard): Modeling of the Polynya Development and the Sea Ice Ridging Process

Abstract

Remote sensing observations of Storfjorden ice cover described the persistence and evolution of latent heat polynyas during winter 1997/1998. The induced important ice production was quantitatively estimated by simple modeling of the sea ice dynamics and growth. In the present work we used mathematical modeling to qualitatively simulate the polynya open and developing. First, we estimate the values of internal stresses appeared in Storfjorden ice sheet due to the wind stress and used them in the model calibration algorithm. Then, we model the polynya open and developing in simple quasi-static approach. The sea ice ridging process is modeled last and the maximum of ice ridges height is estimated. The results of the simulations are compared to satellite observations from ERS-2. They show that the equilibrium stages of the model developing coincide in common with in-situ data of satellite observations. From another side, the estimations show that the ice ridge keel can achieve height up to 8 m along the eastern shore of Spitsbergen.