The variability of sea ice motion in Antarcic

Abstract

As well known, sea ice is a vital component in the marginal ice zone as well as the global climate system. Antarctic sea ice is reported to be sensitive to surface wind forcing. We used a simplified linear formula to understand the relationship between the ice motion and wind as Kimura (2004). These previous study was evaluated relationship using speed reduction factor and turning angle in the Southern Ocean. We use the two types gridded daily sea ice products by the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) ; Sea Ice Concentrations from Nimbus-7 SMMR and DMSP SSM/I-SSMIS Passive Microwave Data and sea ice motion from Polar Pathfinder Daily 25 km EASE-Grid Sea Ice Motion Vectors. Satellite-observed sea ice data was compared with ERA interim reanalysis wind data. In this study, we evaluate the variability of the sea ice concentration and motion in the Southern Ocean in order to investigate the effects of wind on the spatial and temporal variability of the sea ice motion. Moreover, we need to know the change in the sea ice motion in accordance with the sea ice characteristics in Antarctic.