Wind effect on ice dynamics in still water conditions

This study investigates wind effects on ice drift using experimental and numerical simulations, focusing on ice concentration and size. No thermal effects were included. A stationary water field was established, and wind was generated above it. Wind and water velocities were measured with particle image velocimetry (PIV) and particle tracking velocimetry (PTV). PIV, using water particles as seeding material, reliably captured wind velocity. The measured wind velocity and ice concentration served as inputs for the DynaRICE model, while simulated ice velocity was compared to experimental results on the same scale. An inverse linear relationship was found between ice concentration and average ice velocity. Using the default wind-drag coefficient (0.0015), DynaRICE produced ice velocities under stronger wind (1.5 m s−1) that matched experiments more closely, with 19% error, than results at 0.5 and 1.1 m s−1.