Predominant Sea Ice Fracture Zones Around Antarctica and Their Relation to Bathymetric Features

• Published in: Geophysical research letters Vol. 46; no. 21; pp. 12117 - 12124
• Main Authors: Reiser, F., Willmes, S., Hausmann, U., Heinemann, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington John Wiley & Sons, Inc 16.11.2019; American Geophysical Union
• Subjects: Algorithms; Animals; Antarctic sea ice leads; Atmosphere; Bathymeters; Bathymetry; Cracks; Deformation; Deformation mechanisms; Earth Sciences; Fluxes; Fracture mechanics; Fracture zones; Habitats; Ice; Ice cover; Ice formation; Imagery; Imaging techniques; Infrared imagery; MODIS; Ocean currents; Oceanography; Oceans; Offshore; Polar environments; Polar regions; Satellite imagery; Sciences of the Universe; Sea currents; Sea ice; Sea ice deformation; Sea ice leads; Southern Hemisphere; Spaceborne remote sensing; Spatial distribution; Spatial variability; Spatial variations; Spectroradiometers; Stress; Tides; Wind stress; Winds; Southern Ocean; ocean currents; bathymetry; Antarctic sea ice leads; MODIS; tides

Sea ice is of substantial importance for the Southern Ocean, as it insulates the relatively warm ocean from the cold atmosphere. Due to mechanical stress induced by wind and ocean currents, sea ice leads occur, which are characterized by open water and thin ice causing an increase of energy and mois...