Studies of thermal conductivity of snow and conductive heat flux on Arctic perennial sea ice

Lin Long; Zhao Jinping

doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-4193.2018.11.003

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Lin Long, Zhao Jinping. Studies of thermal conductivity of snow and conductive heat flux on Arctic perennial sea ice[J]. Haiyang Xuebao, 2018, 40(11): 23-32. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4193.2018.11.003

Citation:

Lin Long, Zhao Jinping. Studies of thermal conductivity of snow and conductive heat flux on Arctic perennial sea ice[J]. Haiyang Xuebao, 2018, 40(11): 23-32. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4193.2018.11.003

Lin Long, Zhao Jinping. Studies of thermal conductivity of snow and conductive heat flux on Arctic perennial sea ice[J]. Haiyang Xuebao, 2018, 40(11): 23-32. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4193.2018.11.003

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Studies of thermal conductivity of snow and conductive heat flux on Arctic perennial sea ice

doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4193.2018.11.003

Lin Long¹,
Zhao Jinping²

1.
College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
2.
College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China;Key Laboratory of Physical Oceanography, Ministry of Education, Qingdao 266100, China

Received Date: 2018-04-11
Rev Recd Date: 2018-06-12

Abstract

Abstract

Thermal conductivity of snow (k_s) is an important physical parameter for sea ice thermodynamics, which controls the conductive heat flux through the ice. The winter temperature profiles from ice mass balance buoys (IMB) on Arctic perennial sea ice can clearly distinguish the snow-ice interface. Considering the temporal variation of the temperature near the snow-ice interface, a new method for determining the k_s was proposed by exploiting the continuity of the heat flux at the snow-ice interface. Influenced by different circumstance, the k_s on different IMB ranged from 0.23 W/(m·K) to 0.41 W/(m·K), with a mean value of (0.32±0.08) W/(m·K). Maximum conductive heat flux through perennial sea ice occurred from November to March, about 14 W/m² to 16 W/m². In freezing season, the contribution of the specific heat flux from ice cooling in the upward heat lose through ice to atmosphere decreased gradually, from 100% in September to 35% in December, and maintained around 10% from January to March. In summer time, as the heating from ice surface to bottom, temperature of the sea ice upper layer was higher than the lower layer, and the conductive heat transferred downward. Until the solar radiation disappeared in September, air temperature decreased, the conductive heat transferred upward again. As the ice bottom conductive heat flux revealed, a portion of heat transferred from ice to ice-ocean interface in summer time. The low thermal conductivity of snow made it an effective insulator thereby impacting the growth and decay of the underlying sea ice, as well as reducing the transfer of heat between the ocean and atmosphere. The snow covered sea ice upper layer conductive heat flux still showed good relationship with air temperature. For every 1℃ decrease in air temperature, the conductive heat flux increased 0.59 W/m².
- thermal conductivity of snow,
- conductive heat flux,
- ice mass balance buoy,
- perennial ice

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References(27)

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