Anomalous Floe Dynamics in Nares Strait: A Case Study of Ice Arch Formation.
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| Title: | Anomalous Floe Dynamics in Nares Strait: A Case Study of Ice Arch Formation. |
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| Authors: | Vincent, Ron1 (AUTHOR) ron.vincent@rmc.ca, Spekkens, Kristine1,2 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Remote Sensing. May2026, Vol. 18 Issue 10, p1472. 18p. |
| Subjects: | Ice floes, Tidal forces (Mechanics), Sea ice drift, Ice formation & growth, Climate change, Sea ice |
| Geographic Terms: | Arctic regions, Greenland |
| Abstract: | Highlights: What are the main findings? In 2023, ice floe movement throughout Nares Strait was anomalously limited for an extended period because of a combination of low tides and counteracting winds. The virtual stoppage of ice led directly to the formation of an ice arch in Kane Basin, which is an important structure for halting the southerly migration of multiyear ice from the Arctic Ocean. What are the implications of the main findings? The presence of persistent southerly winds in conjunction with low tides is a mechanism of ice arch formation in Kane Basin. As multiyear ice travelling through Nares Strait becomes less prevalent and thinner, floe stoppage from a combination of southerly winds and low tides may become an important factor in future ice arch formations. Nares Strait is a narrow channel situated between Ellesmere Island and Greenland, through which the prevailing winds and surface current transport multiyear ice southward from the Arctic Ocean. Seasonal formation of ice arches at the northern or southern terminus of Nares Strait reduces the annual loss of multiyear ice. Since 2007, there have been six atypical ice arch configurations and two seasons in which no ice arches formed. The duration of ice arch days in Nares Strait is trending downward, accelerating multiyear ice loss. Understanding the physical processes of ice arch formation is critical for predicting the future of ice transport in Nares Strait. On 28 and 29 March 2023, satellite imagery showed anomalously limited floe movement throughout Nares Strait. When normal ice flow resumed, a southern ice arch had formed. The data suggests that southerly winds close to neap tide negated the southward movement of ice, causing immobilization of ice in Kane Basin on a scale previously assumed impossible, which led to ice arch formation. The results indicate that winds counteracting southerly ice movement is a mechanism of ice arch formation. This study presents a previously undocumented mechanism of ice formation, one that will increase in importance as Arctic ice thins and becomes more mobile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Engineering Source |
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