Anchor ice in polar oceans

Abstract

One feature of high-latitude areas is the formation of ice clusters attached to the beds of rivers, lakes and the sea. This anchor ice, as it is widely known, plays an important role in mobilizing bed sediments, as well as ecological roles as a food source, habitat and potentially fatal environment. Much work has been devoted to fluvial anchor ice in the Northern Hemisphere, yet comparatively little work has described anchor ice in polar marine environments, despite its description by Antarctic expedition scientists over a century ago. In this paper, we review the current understanding of anchor ice formation in polar marine environments. Supercooled water is a necessity for anchor ice to form and frazil adhesion is the most likely common mechanism for initial anchor ice growth. Strong biological zonation has led some authors to suggest that anchor ice does not form to depths of greater than 33 m, yet in Antarctica there appear to be no physical reasons for such a limit given the production of supercooled water to substantial depths associated with ice shelves. Future work should focus on the potential extent of anchor ice production and identify the key oceanographic, glaciological and meteorological conditions conducive to its formation.