In situ field measurements of the temporal evolution of low-frequency sea-ice dielectric properties in relation to temperature, salinity, and microstructure

The seasonal evolution of sea-ice microstructure controls key ice properties, including those governing ocean–atmosphere heat and gas exchange, remote-sensing signatures, and the role of the ice cover as a habitat. Non-destructive in situ monitoring of sea-ice microstructure is of value for sea-ice...

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Main Authors: M. O'Sadnick, M. Ingham, H. Eicken, E. Pettit
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2016-11-01
Series:The Cryosphere
Online Access:http://www.the-cryosphere.net/10/2923/2016/tc-10-2923-2016.pdf
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author M. O'Sadnick
M. Ingham
H. Eicken
E. Pettit
author_facet M. O'Sadnick
M. Ingham
H. Eicken
E. Pettit
author_sort M. O'Sadnick
collection DOAJ
description The seasonal evolution of sea-ice microstructure controls key ice properties, including those governing ocean–atmosphere heat and gas exchange, remote-sensing signatures, and the role of the ice cover as a habitat. Non-destructive in situ monitoring of sea-ice microstructure is of value for sea-ice research and operations but remains elusive to date. We examine the potential for the electric properties of sea ice, which is highly sensitive to the brine distribution within the ice, to serve as a proxy for microstructure and, hence, other ice transport properties. Throughout spring of 2013 and 2014, we measured complex dielectric permittivity in the range of 10 to 95 kHz in landfast ice off the coast of Barrow (Utqiaġvik), Alaska. Temperature and salinity measurements and ice samples provide data to characterize ice microstructure in relation to these permittivity measurements. The results reveal a significant correlation between complex dielectric permittivity, brine volume fraction, and microstructural characteristics including pore volume and connectivity, derived from X-ray microtomography of core samples. The influence of temperature and salinity variations as well as the relationships between ice properties, microstructural characteristics, and dielectric behavior emerge from multivariate analysis of the combined data set. Our findings suggest some promise for low-frequency permittivity measurements to track seasonal evolution of a combination of mean pore volume, fractional connectivity, and pore surface area-to-volume ratio, which in turn may serve as proxies for key sea-ice transport properties.
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spelling doaj.art-97e4bf58feda4264abd138fd2876e1fb2022-12-21T18:37:19ZengCopernicus PublicationsThe Cryosphere1994-04161994-04242016-11-011062923294010.5194/tc-10-2923-2016In situ field measurements of the temporal evolution of low-frequency sea-ice dielectric properties in relation to temperature, salinity, and microstructureM. O'Sadnick0M. Ingham1H. Eicken2E. Pettit3Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USASchool of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New ZealandInternational Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USADepartment of Geosciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USAThe seasonal evolution of sea-ice microstructure controls key ice properties, including those governing ocean–atmosphere heat and gas exchange, remote-sensing signatures, and the role of the ice cover as a habitat. Non-destructive in situ monitoring of sea-ice microstructure is of value for sea-ice research and operations but remains elusive to date. We examine the potential for the electric properties of sea ice, which is highly sensitive to the brine distribution within the ice, to serve as a proxy for microstructure and, hence, other ice transport properties. Throughout spring of 2013 and 2014, we measured complex dielectric permittivity in the range of 10 to 95 kHz in landfast ice off the coast of Barrow (Utqiaġvik), Alaska. Temperature and salinity measurements and ice samples provide data to characterize ice microstructure in relation to these permittivity measurements. The results reveal a significant correlation between complex dielectric permittivity, brine volume fraction, and microstructural characteristics including pore volume and connectivity, derived from X-ray microtomography of core samples. The influence of temperature and salinity variations as well as the relationships between ice properties, microstructural characteristics, and dielectric behavior emerge from multivariate analysis of the combined data set. Our findings suggest some promise for low-frequency permittivity measurements to track seasonal evolution of a combination of mean pore volume, fractional connectivity, and pore surface area-to-volume ratio, which in turn may serve as proxies for key sea-ice transport properties.http://www.the-cryosphere.net/10/2923/2016/tc-10-2923-2016.pdf
spellingShingle M. O'Sadnick
M. Ingham
H. Eicken
E. Pettit
In situ field measurements of the temporal evolution of low-frequency sea-ice dielectric properties in relation to temperature, salinity, and microstructure
The Cryosphere
title In situ field measurements of the temporal evolution of low-frequency sea-ice dielectric properties in relation to temperature, salinity, and microstructure
title_full In situ field measurements of the temporal evolution of low-frequency sea-ice dielectric properties in relation to temperature, salinity, and microstructure
title_fullStr In situ field measurements of the temporal evolution of low-frequency sea-ice dielectric properties in relation to temperature, salinity, and microstructure
title_full_unstemmed In situ field measurements of the temporal evolution of low-frequency sea-ice dielectric properties in relation to temperature, salinity, and microstructure
title_short In situ field measurements of the temporal evolution of low-frequency sea-ice dielectric properties in relation to temperature, salinity, and microstructure
title_sort in situ field measurements of the temporal evolution of low frequency sea ice dielectric properties in relation to temperature salinity and microstructure
url http://www.the-cryosphere.net/10/2923/2016/tc-10-2923-2016.pdf
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