Fracture Networks in Sea Ice

Fracturing and refreezing of sea ice in the Kara sea are investigated using complex network<br/>analysis. By going to the dual network, where the fractures are nodes and their intersections<br/>links, we gain access to topological features which are easy to measure and hence compare<br/>with modeled networks. Resulting network reveal statistical properties of the fracturing process.<br/>The dual networks have a broad degree distribution, with a scale-free tail, high clustering<br/>and efficiency. The degree-degree correlation profile shows disassortative behavior, indicating<br/>preferential growth. This implies that long, dominating fractures appear earlier than shorter<br/>fractures, and that the short fractures which are created later tend to connect to the long<br/>fractures.<br/><br/>The knowledge of the fracturing process is used to construct growing fracture network (GFN)<br/>model which provides insight into the generation of fracture networks. The GFN model is<br/>primarily based on the observation that fractures in sea ice are likely to end when hitting existing<br/>fractures. Based on an investigation of which fractures survive over time, a simple model for<br/>refreezing is also added to the GFN model, and the model is analyzed and compared to the real<br/>networks.

Abstract licence: CC BY

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