Ross Ice Shelf Icequakes Associated With Ocean Gravity Wave Activity

Z. Chen; P. D. Bromirski; P. Gerstoft; R. A. Stephen; W. S. Lee; S. Yun; S. D. Olinger; R. C. Aster; D. A. Wiens; A. A. Nyblade

doi:10.1029/2019GL084123

Ross Ice Shelf Icequakes Associated With Ocean Gravity Wave Activity

Z. Chen, P. D. Bromirski, P. Gerstoft, R. A. Stephen, W. S. Lee, S. Yun, S. D. Olinger, R. C. Aster, D. A. Wiens, A. A. Nyblade

Geosciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

Gravity waves impacting ice shelves illicit a suite of responses that can affect ice shelf integrity. Broadband seismometers deployed on the Ross Ice Shelf, complemented by a near-icefront seafloor hydrophone, establish the association of strong icequake activity with ocean gravity wave amplitudes (A_G) below 0.04 Hz. The Ross Ice Shelf-front seismic vertical displacement amplitudes (A_SV) are well correlated with A_G, allowing estimating the frequency-dependent transfer function from gravity wave amplitude to icefront vertical displacement amplitude (T_GSV(f)). T_GSV(f) is 0.6–0.7 at 0.001–0.01 Hz but decreases rapidly at higher frequencies. Seismicity of strong icequakes exhibits spatial and seasonal associations with different gravity wave frequency bands, with the strongest icequakes observed at the icefront primarily during the austral summer when sea ice is minimal and swell impacts are strongest.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	8893-8902
Number of pages	10
Journal	Geophysical Research Letters
Volume	46
Issue number	15
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL084123
State	Published - Aug 16 2019

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Geophysics
General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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10.1029/2019GL084123

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title = "Ross Ice Shelf Icequakes Associated With Ocean Gravity Wave Activity",

abstract = "Gravity waves impacting ice shelves illicit a suite of responses that can affect ice shelf integrity. Broadband seismometers deployed on the Ross Ice Shelf, complemented by a near-icefront seafloor hydrophone, establish the association of strong icequake activity with ocean gravity wave amplitudes (AG) below 0.04 Hz. The Ross Ice Shelf-front seismic vertical displacement amplitudes (ASV) are well correlated with AG, allowing estimating the frequency-dependent transfer function from gravity wave amplitude to icefront vertical displacement amplitude (TGSV(f)). TGSV(f) is 0.6–0.7 at 0.001–0.01 Hz but decreases rapidly at higher frequencies. Seismicity of strong icequakes exhibits spatial and seasonal associations with different gravity wave frequency bands, with the strongest icequakes observed at the icefront primarily during the austral summer when sea ice is minimal and swell impacts are strongest.",

author = "Z. Chen and Bromirski, {P. D.} and P. Gerstoft and Stephen, {R. A.} and Lee, {W. S.} and S. Yun and Olinger, {S. D.} and Aster, {R. C.} and Wiens, {D. A.} and Nyblade, {A. A.}",

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T1 - Ross Ice Shelf Icequakes Associated With Ocean Gravity Wave Activity

AU - Chen, Z.

AU - Bromirski, P. D.

AU - Gerstoft, P.

AU - Stephen, R. A.

AU - Lee, W. S.

AU - Yun, S.

AU - Olinger, S. D.

AU - Aster, R. C.

AU - Wiens, D. A.

AU - Nyblade, A. A.

PY - 2019/8/16

Y1 - 2019/8/16

N2 - Gravity waves impacting ice shelves illicit a suite of responses that can affect ice shelf integrity. Broadband seismometers deployed on the Ross Ice Shelf, complemented by a near-icefront seafloor hydrophone, establish the association of strong icequake activity with ocean gravity wave amplitudes (AG) below 0.04 Hz. The Ross Ice Shelf-front seismic vertical displacement amplitudes (ASV) are well correlated with AG, allowing estimating the frequency-dependent transfer function from gravity wave amplitude to icefront vertical displacement amplitude (TGSV(f)). TGSV(f) is 0.6–0.7 at 0.001–0.01 Hz but decreases rapidly at higher frequencies. Seismicity of strong icequakes exhibits spatial and seasonal associations with different gravity wave frequency bands, with the strongest icequakes observed at the icefront primarily during the austral summer when sea ice is minimal and swell impacts are strongest.

AB - Gravity waves impacting ice shelves illicit a suite of responses that can affect ice shelf integrity. Broadband seismometers deployed on the Ross Ice Shelf, complemented by a near-icefront seafloor hydrophone, establish the association of strong icequake activity with ocean gravity wave amplitudes (AG) below 0.04 Hz. The Ross Ice Shelf-front seismic vertical displacement amplitudes (ASV) are well correlated with AG, allowing estimating the frequency-dependent transfer function from gravity wave amplitude to icefront vertical displacement amplitude (TGSV(f)). TGSV(f) is 0.6–0.7 at 0.001–0.01 Hz but decreases rapidly at higher frequencies. Seismicity of strong icequakes exhibits spatial and seasonal associations with different gravity wave frequency bands, with the strongest icequakes observed at the icefront primarily during the austral summer when sea ice is minimal and swell impacts are strongest.

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JF - Geophysical Research Letters

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ER -

Ross Ice Shelf Icequakes Associated With Ocean Gravity Wave Activity

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

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