Increase in the wave power caused by decreasing sea ice over the Sea of Okhotsk in winter

Abstract Increasing ocean surface waves owing to decreasing sea ice in the Sea of Okhotsk (SO) is a major concern. However, long-term trends of ocean surface waves in the SO have not yet been investigated. Therefore, the long-term trends of wave power ( $${P}_{\mathrm{w}}$$ P w ) in the SO were inve...

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Main Author: Shinsuke Iwasaki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2023-02-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-29692-9
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author Shinsuke Iwasaki
author_facet Shinsuke Iwasaki
author_sort Shinsuke Iwasaki
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Increasing ocean surface waves owing to decreasing sea ice in the Sea of Okhotsk (SO) is a major concern. However, long-term trends of ocean surface waves in the SO have not yet been investigated. Therefore, the long-term trends of wave power ( $${P}_{\mathrm{w}}$$ P w ) in the SO were investigated using the 40-year (from the 1980s) simulations and based on the wave model (WAVEWATCH III) enforced by three reanalyses and one satellite product. Three wave model simulations were conducted using the original (hourly or daily) reanalysis or satellite sea ice data. In addition, to quantify the responses of the long-term $${P}_{\mathrm{w}}$$ P w trends to surface winds and sea ice, three wave model simulations were performed with climatological sea ice data, for a total of six model simulations. The model results of the original sea ice data corresponded well with the buoy observations. Moreover, $${P}_{\mathrm{w}}$$ P w increased (~ 12–15% per decade) remarkably during winter (December–February). The increased $${P}_{\mathrm{w}}$$ P w could be attributed to the strengthened surface winds and reduced sea ice (i.e., reduction of direct wave decay by sea ice). Moreover, a horizontal gradient of sea level pressure enhanced by the reduced sea ice strengthened the surface winds. These results suggested that the reduction of sea ice is the most important factor responsible for the positive $${P}_{\mathrm{w}}$$ P w trend over the SO during winter.
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spelling doaj.art-1ce058738d8549e585ac5501d990c3722023-03-22T11:12:15ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-02-0113111010.1038/s41598-023-29692-9Increase in the wave power caused by decreasing sea ice over the Sea of Okhotsk in winterShinsuke Iwasaki0Civil Engineering Research Institute for Cold Region, Public Works Research InstituteAbstract Increasing ocean surface waves owing to decreasing sea ice in the Sea of Okhotsk (SO) is a major concern. However, long-term trends of ocean surface waves in the SO have not yet been investigated. Therefore, the long-term trends of wave power ( $${P}_{\mathrm{w}}$$ P w ) in the SO were investigated using the 40-year (from the 1980s) simulations and based on the wave model (WAVEWATCH III) enforced by three reanalyses and one satellite product. Three wave model simulations were conducted using the original (hourly or daily) reanalysis or satellite sea ice data. In addition, to quantify the responses of the long-term $${P}_{\mathrm{w}}$$ P w trends to surface winds and sea ice, three wave model simulations were performed with climatological sea ice data, for a total of six model simulations. The model results of the original sea ice data corresponded well with the buoy observations. Moreover, $${P}_{\mathrm{w}}$$ P w increased (~ 12–15% per decade) remarkably during winter (December–February). The increased $${P}_{\mathrm{w}}$$ P w could be attributed to the strengthened surface winds and reduced sea ice (i.e., reduction of direct wave decay by sea ice). Moreover, a horizontal gradient of sea level pressure enhanced by the reduced sea ice strengthened the surface winds. These results suggested that the reduction of sea ice is the most important factor responsible for the positive $${P}_{\mathrm{w}}$$ P w trend over the SO during winter.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-29692-9
spellingShingle Shinsuke Iwasaki
Increase in the wave power caused by decreasing sea ice over the Sea of Okhotsk in winter
Scientific Reports
title Increase in the wave power caused by decreasing sea ice over the Sea of Okhotsk in winter
title_full Increase in the wave power caused by decreasing sea ice over the Sea of Okhotsk in winter
title_fullStr Increase in the wave power caused by decreasing sea ice over the Sea of Okhotsk in winter
title_full_unstemmed Increase in the wave power caused by decreasing sea ice over the Sea of Okhotsk in winter
title_short Increase in the wave power caused by decreasing sea ice over the Sea of Okhotsk in winter
title_sort increase in the wave power caused by decreasing sea ice over the sea of okhotsk in winter
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-29692-9
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