Review of wave-ice interaction studies

Abstract

In the past several decades, sea-ice cover in the Arctic Ocean advances later than usual in the autumns and retreats earlier in the springs due to climate change. Concomitantly, total area of ice cover reduces and average ice thickness decreases. Consequently, open water areas increase and wave climate exacerbates. The interaction between waves and ice is strongly coupled and highly nonlinear. Ice refracts, attenuates, and scatters the waves. Reciprocally, waves bend, break and transport the ice around. From 1950s onwards, considerable scientific efforts have been made to study wave propagation in ice-covered waters. This paper summarizes the theoretical models, available in the open literature, for wave-ice interactions. Here, we discuss the assumptions, application ranges and limitations of these models. Moreover, we discuss the use of these theoretical models in operational wave models like WAVEWATCH III and present concerns about the parameterizations of the ice effects. Additionally, some applications of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) remote sensing for studying ice effects on waves are presented. Finally, we identify the knowledge gaps in studying wave-ice interactions.