Wave-ice interactions in Barents Sea Marginal Ice Zone

The motion of two ice floes in a wave held were simultaneously measured wit h two six degree of freedom instruments in the Barents Sea Marginal Ice Zon e. The heave motion amplitude was used to interpret the wave amplitude. The response of the floes in a wave field relative to the wave amplitude at se veral different frequencies was investigated through spectral analysis. Com parison of the calculated wave amplitude at these two locations gave the wa ve attenuation coefficient, which was somewhat larger than those reported f rom previous field experiments; this is perhaps due to both the relatively higher concentration and the types of ice found during the investigation. T he heave, sway, surge, pitch, roll, and yaw amplitudes were compared with t he wave amplitude. The nondimensional response amplitude operators have sim ilar values in the directions parallel and perpendicular to the wave direct ion; the response amplitude operators in pitch, heave, and surge agree with the predictions From previous theoretical studies. Similar responses in th e sway, roll, and yaw directions indicate significant floe-floe interaction s. These floe interactions may also contribute to the observed wave attenua tion. Finally, there was essentially no difference between the floe energy attenuation and the wave attenuation.