Validity of the wave stationarity assumption on estimates of wave attenuation in sea ice: toward a method for wave–ice attenuation observations at global scales

In situ observations of wave attenuation by sea ice are required to develop and validate wave–ice interaction parameterizations in coupled wave models. To estimate ice-induced wave attenuation in the field, the wave field is typically assumed to be stationary. In this study we investigate the validi...

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Main Authors: Joey J. Voermans, Xingkun Xu, Alexander V. Babanin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2023-08-01
Series:Journal of Glaciology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143022000995/type/journal_article
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author Joey J. Voermans
Xingkun Xu
Alexander V. Babanin
author_facet Joey J. Voermans
Xingkun Xu
Alexander V. Babanin
author_sort Joey J. Voermans
collection DOAJ
description In situ observations of wave attenuation by sea ice are required to develop and validate wave–ice interaction parameterizations in coupled wave models. To estimate ice-induced wave attenuation in the field, the wave field is typically assumed to be stationary. In this study we investigate the validity of this assumption by creating a synthetic wave field in sea ice for different attenuation rates. We observe that errors in estimates of the wave attenuation rates are largest when attenuation rates are small or temporal averaging periods are short. Moreover, the adoption of the wave stationarity assumption can lead to negative estimates of the instantaneous wave attenuation rate. These apparent negative values should therefore not be attributed to wave growth or erroneous measurements a priori. Surprisingly, we observe that the validity of the wave stationarity assumption is irrelevant to the accuracy of estimates of wave attenuation rates as long as the temporal averaging period is taken sufficiently long. This may provide opportunities in using satellite-derived products to estimate wave attenuation rates in sea ice at global scales.
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spelling doaj.art-8a0011eb294d4deebbf3c50b5e9184bd2023-07-28T10:47:45ZengCambridge University PressJournal of Glaciology0022-14301727-56522023-08-016980381010.1017/jog.2022.99Validity of the wave stationarity assumption on estimates of wave attenuation in sea ice: toward a method for wave–ice attenuation observations at global scalesJoey J. Voermans0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2963-3763Xingkun Xu1Alexander V. Babanin2Department of Infrastructure Engineering, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, AustraliaDepartment of Infrastructure Engineering, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, AustraliaDepartment of Infrastructure Engineering, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, AustraliaIn situ observations of wave attenuation by sea ice are required to develop and validate wave–ice interaction parameterizations in coupled wave models. To estimate ice-induced wave attenuation in the field, the wave field is typically assumed to be stationary. In this study we investigate the validity of this assumption by creating a synthetic wave field in sea ice for different attenuation rates. We observe that errors in estimates of the wave attenuation rates are largest when attenuation rates are small or temporal averaging periods are short. Moreover, the adoption of the wave stationarity assumption can lead to negative estimates of the instantaneous wave attenuation rate. These apparent negative values should therefore not be attributed to wave growth or erroneous measurements a priori. Surprisingly, we observe that the validity of the wave stationarity assumption is irrelevant to the accuracy of estimates of wave attenuation rates as long as the temporal averaging period is taken sufficiently long. This may provide opportunities in using satellite-derived products to estimate wave attenuation rates in sea ice at global scales.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143022000995/type/journal_articleAtmosphere/ice/ocean interactionssea icesea-ice dynamics
spellingShingle Joey J. Voermans
Xingkun Xu
Alexander V. Babanin
Validity of the wave stationarity assumption on estimates of wave attenuation in sea ice: toward a method for wave–ice attenuation observations at global scales
Journal of Glaciology
Atmosphere/ice/ocean interactions
sea ice
sea-ice dynamics
title Validity of the wave stationarity assumption on estimates of wave attenuation in sea ice: toward a method for wave–ice attenuation observations at global scales
title_full Validity of the wave stationarity assumption on estimates of wave attenuation in sea ice: toward a method for wave–ice attenuation observations at global scales
title_fullStr Validity of the wave stationarity assumption on estimates of wave attenuation in sea ice: toward a method for wave–ice attenuation observations at global scales
title_full_unstemmed Validity of the wave stationarity assumption on estimates of wave attenuation in sea ice: toward a method for wave–ice attenuation observations at global scales
title_short Validity of the wave stationarity assumption on estimates of wave attenuation in sea ice: toward a method for wave–ice attenuation observations at global scales
title_sort validity of the wave stationarity assumption on estimates of wave attenuation in sea ice toward a method for wave ice attenuation observations at global scales
topic Atmosphere/ice/ocean interactions
sea ice
sea-ice dynamics
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143022000995/type/journal_article
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