Evidence of abrupt transitions between sea ice dynamical regimes in the
East Greenland marginal ice zone
Abstract
Sea ice modulates the energy exchange between the atmosphere and the
ocean through its kinematics.
Marginal ice zone (MIZ) dynamics are complex and are not well resolved
in routine observations.
Here, we investigate sea ice dynamics in the Greenland Sea MIZ using two
Lagrangian drift datasets.
We find evidence of tidal currents strongly affecting sub-daily sea ice
motion. Velocity anomalies show abrupt transitions aligned with
gradients in seafloor topography, indicating changes in ocean currents.
Remote-sensed ice floe trajectories derived from moderate resolution
satellite imagery provide a view of small-scale variability across the
Greenland continental shelf. Ice floe trajectories reveal an west-east
increasing velocity gradient imposed by the East Greenland Current, with
maximum velocities aligned along the continental shelf edge. These
results highlight the importance of small scale ocean variability for
ice dynamics in the MIZ.