TOWARD REALISM IN MODELING OCEAN WAVE BEHAVIOR IN MARGINAL ICE ZONES

The model of Meylan and Square [1996], which treats solitary ice flees as floating, flexible circular disks, is incorporated into the equati on of transport for the propagation of waves through a scattering medi um, assumed to represent open ice pack in a marginal ice zone. The tim e-independent form of the equation is then solved for homogeneous ice conditions allowing for dissipation due to scattering, together with e xtra absorption from interactions between floes, losses in the water c olumn, and losses arising from the inelastic character of the sea ice including local brash. The spatial evolution of wave spectra as they p rogress through the pack is investigated with the aim of explaining th e field data of Wadhams et al. [1986]. Specifically, the change toward directional isotropy experienced by waves as they travel into the ice interior is of interest. In accord with observations, directional spr ead is found to widen with penetration until eventually becoming isotr opic, the process being sensitive to wave period. The effect of absorp tion on the solution is investigated.