EVOLUTION OF THE FAST ICE THICKNESS IN FREEZING SEAS

A. N. Chetyrbotskii

A model of the evolution of the fast-ice thickness is described by the equation which takes into account a factor of thickness stabilization as the air temperature above the ice decreases. The model is studied analytically. Different regimes of fast ice are discussed. Their occurrence depends on the rate of decrease of air temperature and on the amount of sea water available to ice. The adequacy of the model is shown using selected distributions of fast-ice thickness in the Sea of Japan.