Abstract
The size distribution of frazil ice is currently unconstrained in ice
shelf cavity modeling. Here we observe the time-dependent behavior of
the number and size of frazil ice particles in an Ice Shelf Water plume.
A novel acoustic scattering inversion was used to infer frazil ice
crystal diameters, assuming a log-normal distribution. Observation sites
were on land-fast sea ice approximately 13 and 33 km from the front of
the McMurdo Ice Shelf, Antarctica. The water column from the ice-water
interface to 30 m below mean sea level was monitored over 3 weeks in
November of 2016 and 2017. At 15 m below sea level the mean frazil
crystal diameter was
$\sim$\SI{1}{\milli\metre}.
Fractional ice volume, derived from frazil crystal size and number
density, correlates with in-situ supercooling (up to
\SI{50}{\milli\kelvin}
at \SI{15}{\metre} below sea level).
The data presented here provide valuable input for model initiation and
evaluation.