Attenuation of gravity waves in fast ice

Abstract

The attenuation coefficients of sea waves in ice in the coastal zone of the Sea of Okhotsk with periods from 4 to 30 s were estimated as a function of their wavelength based on observations. We used the model dispersion relation for these waves in ice and calculated the theoretical attenuation coefficients. We compared them with those from the data of experiments based on the relation of the spectral energies of waves in ice-free water and in ice. It is possible to use the estimated attenuation coefficients for waves of different periods to calculate the distance of wave propagation in fast ice with the critical amplitude where ice breaking is possible.