Resonance vibrations of the Ross Ice Shelf and observations of persistent atmospheric waves
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Authors
Godin, Oleg A.
Zabotin, Nikolay A.
Subjects
Simple physical models of long-period
vibrations of floating ice shelves are
developed
Ice shelf vibrations are studied as cause of persistent atmospheric wave activity in Antarctic MLT
The hypothesis of the Ross Ice Shelf-MLT coupling explains key features of recent lidar observations
Ice shelf vibrations are studied as cause of persistent atmospheric wave activity in Antarctic MLT
The hypothesis of the Ross Ice Shelf-MLT coupling explains key features of recent lidar observations
Advisors
Date of Issue
2016
Date
Publisher
AGU Publications
Language
Abstract
Recently reported lidar observations have revealed a persistent wave activity in the Antarctic
middle and upper atmosphere that has no counterpart in observations at midlatitude and low-latitude
locations. The unusual wave activity suggests a geographically specific source of atmospheric waves with
periods of 3??0 h. Here we investigate theoretically the hypothesis that the unusual atmospheric wave
activity in Antarctica is generated by the fundamental and low-order modes of vibrations of the Ross Ice Shelf
(RIS). Simple models are developed to describe basic physical properties of resonant vibrations of large ice
shelves and their coupling to the atmosphere. Dispersion relation of the long surface waves, which propagate
in the floating ice sheet and are responsible for its low-order resonances, is found to be similar to the
dispersion relation of infragravity waves in the ice-free ocean. The phase speed of the surface waves and the
resonant frequencies determine the periods and wave vectors of atmospheric waves that are generated by
the RIS resonant oscillations. The altitude-dependent vertical wavelengths and the periods of the
acoustic-gravity waves in the atmosphere are shown to be sensitive to the physical parameters of the RIS,
which can be difficult to measure by other means. Predicted properties of the atmospheric waves prove to be
in a remarkable agreement with the key features of the observed persistent wave activity.
Type
Article
Description
The article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/2016JA023226
Series/Report No
Department
Physics
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
National Science Foundation
University of Colorado Boulder
Office of Naval Research
Basic Research Challenge program
University of Colorado Boulder
Office of Naval Research
Basic Research Challenge program
Funder
Office of Naval Research N000141310348
National Science Foundation, award CNS-0821794
National Science Foundation, award CNS-0821794
Format
15 p.
Citation
Godin, Oleg A., and Nikolay A. Zabotin. "Resonance vibrations of the Ross Ice Shelf and observations of persistent atmospheric waves." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 121.10 (2016).
Distribution Statement
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.