Physical length scales of wind-blown snow redistribution and accumulation on relatively smooth Arctic first-year sea ice Environmental Research Letters

Snow thickness measurements over relatively smooth Arctic first-year sea ice, obtained near Cambridge Bay in the Canadian Arctic (2014, 2016 and 2017) and near Elson Lagoon in the Alaskan Arctic (2003 and 2006), are analyzed to quantify physical length-scales and their relevant scaling behaviors. We use the multi-fractal temporally weighted detrended fluctuation analysis method to detect two major physical length-scales from the two independent study locations. Our results suggest that physical processes underlying the formation of snow dunes are consistent and that the wind is the main process shaping the snow thickness variability and redistribution. One scale, around 10 m, appears to be related to the formation of the snow 'dunes', while the other scale, between 30 and 100 m, is likely associated with the various interactions of the snow dunes such as merging, calving and lateral linking. Results imply that snow on level sea ice shows self-organized characteristics.

针对加拿大北极地区剑桥湾（2014、2016、2017年）与阿拉斯加北极地区埃尔森泻湖（2003、2006年）附近相对平缓的北极一年海冰区域采集的雪厚测量数据，本研究开展分析以量化其物理特征尺度及相关标度行为。我们采用多重分形时间加权去趋势波动分析（multi-fractal temporally weighted detrended fluctuation analysis）方法，从两处独立研究区域中识别出两类主要物理特征尺度。研究结果表明，控制雪丘形成的物理过程具有一致性，而风力是塑造雪厚变化与再分布的核心驱动过程。其中一类尺度约为10米，与雪丘的形成相关；另一类尺度介于30至100米之间，则可能与雪丘的合并、崩解及侧向连接等多种相互作用过程有关。本研究结果还显示，平整海冰表面的积雪呈现出自组织特性。