SGER Proposal: Iceberg drift in the near-shelf environment, Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica

最近罗斯冰架上的一座大冰山（B15）的崩解提供了一个独特的机会来测量控制大型平板冰山漂移的过程，包括风驱动和热盐流、潮汐、海冰和风。在美国南极计划的后勤范围内，如此巨大的冰山崩解是罕见的。因此，B15的产犊提供了一个令人兴奋的机会来研究冰山漂移，以及冰山行为的所有其他方面，这些方面与南极环境的长期稳定有关。大型平板状冰山的非凡淡水量过去已被确定为具有人类经济价值的自然资源（例如，对地球上缺水地区来说）。把冰山拖到缺水地区的可行性研究在很大程度上被当成了科幻小说。然而，由于自然过程，平板冰山通常会移动数千英里，如果了解这些过程，也许可以为人类的经济和社会价值加以利用。我们建议直接测量冰山B15a、B15b和较小冰山（根据具体情况，可以是B16、B17或B18）的漂移：通过确定适合大气和海洋相互作用的阻力系数，包括海冰引起的阻力，在观测上约束将改进冰山漂移模式的参数2。2 .提高我们预测冰裂事件和随后冰山漂移轨迹的能力。补充正在进行的对冰山及其行为的遥感研究。测量berg(s)向物流敏感区域的进展。最后一点反映了这样一个事实，即对B15在未来几年的漂移感兴趣的并不局限于基础科学领域。可以想象，B15和它的后代（它现在已经分成了两部分，并导致了罗斯冰架上较小的冰山崩解）会给来往美国在南极洲的主要研究和物流站的正常航运带来麻烦。虽然这项提议代表了几个机构的几个研究人员的广泛科学兴趣，但它的重点是狭隘的。请求支持装配和部署仪器，以观察天气状况和B15的漂移。

0089902MacAyealThe recent calving of a large iceberg (B15) from the Ross Ice Shelf presents a unique opportunity to measure the processes which control the drift of large tabular icebergs including, wind-driven and thermohaline currents, tides, sea ice, and winds. The calving of such an extraordinarily large iceberg within the logistics reach of the US Antarctic Program, is rare. Thus the calving of B15 offers an exciting opportunity to study iceberg drift, and all of the other aspects of iceberg behavior which are associated with the long-term stability of the Antarctic environment.The extraordinary freshwater volume of large tabular icebergs has in the past been identified as a natural resource of human economic value (e.g., for water poor regions of the earth). Feasibility studies of iceberg towing to water-poor regions have largely been poo-pooed as science fiction. Nevertheless, tabular icebergs commonly travel thousands of miles as a result of natural processes which, if understood, could perhaps be harnessed for human economic and social value. We propose to make direct measurements of the drift of icebergs B15a, B15b and asmaller iceberg (either B16, B17 or B18, depending on circumstances) to:1. observationally constrain parameters that will improve the models of iceberg drift, e.g., by determining drag coefficients appropriate to atmospheric and oceanic interactions, including drag induced by sea ice,2. improve our ability to predict calving events and the subsequent iceberg drift trajectory,3. compliment ongoing remote sensing study of the iceberg and its behavior4. measure the progress of the berg(s) toward logistically sensitive areas.The last point reflects the fact that interest in B15's drift over the next year(s) is not restricted to the realm of basic science. It is conceivable that B15 and its progeny (it is now in two pieces and has caused smaller bergs to calve from the Ross Ice Shelf) poses a complication to normal shipping to and from the US's main research and logistics station in Antarctica. While this proposal represents the broad scientific interests of several investigators at several institutions, its focus is narrow. Support is requested for assembly and deployment of instruments to observe the weather conditions and the drift of B15.