Processes in Svalbard Fjords
摘要
The chapter presents oceanographic research in the Arctic related to the study of various processes in the Arctic fjords of Spitsbergen. Similarly to many straits and shallow waters in the ocean we observed asymmetric tide in a channel connecting the Van Mijen Fjord and Lake Vallunden in Spitsbergen. The durations of flood and ebb tides were different. The channel is approximately 100 m long, 10 m wide, and 1–2 m deep. Asymmetric tide was also observed in the lake. The flood dominant form of the surface elevation in the channel (unlike the ebb dominant tide in the fjord) is formed over a horizontal distance of 50 m over a shallow bottom at the entrance to the channel. The tide in shallow places becomes asymmetric due to nonlinear effects caused by the influence of the bottom and especially by choking of the tidal flow over a sill that is located between the fjord and channel. We also observed seiches in Lake Vallunden. Two frequencies of seches were recorded associated with longitudinal and transversal seiches in the lake. We summarized winter oceanographic measurements in the Spitsbergen fjords. The measurements allowed us to analyze different processes that occur in the fjords covered with ice: semidiurnal tides, tsunami wave, wind waves, seiches, and high-frequency internal waves. Space and time scales of these processes were compared and the frequency spectra of the surface manifestations of these waves have been plotted on one graph. We also studied collisional interaction of floating ice blocks. Field experiments were performed to investigate collisional interaction of ice floes and characteristics of water currents between interacting floes. Strong current in a channel connecting the Van Mijen Fjord and Lake Vallunden usually prevents freezing of seawater in the channel. However as soon as the stream appears under ice strong freezing starts, which makes the ice thicker in the continuation of the current compared to the ice thickness in the entire lake.