Surface wave measurement by drifting wave buoys (MR18-05C)

Recent research has recognized surface ocean waves as one of the key physical processes in sea ice freeze up in autumn in the western Arctic Ocean. By deploying two drifting wave buoys in partially ice-covered water and adjacent open water, we aimed to study wave characteristics during the back and forth sea ice advance and retreat primarily driven by surface winds. On-ice winds bring relatively warm air over open water as well as surface waves; waves are decayed through damping and scattering as they enter ice-covered waters, and wave attenuation and sea ice break up observation are the key processes we aimed to capture.
Furthermore, wave growth over ice-covered water during off-ice winds are also of interest.