Modelling the propagation of light in sea ice may prove useful in predicting the partitioning of radiant energy impinging onto the sea ice. It could be used for predicting snow and ice melting, the radiant energy available for photosynthetic needs of ice algae and that able to enter the water column.

Proper interpretation of radiant flux measurements requires considerable knowledge of study conditions and may yield precise results that are only pertinent at those specific times or locations actually studied. Modelling allows a less precise though more general view to be gained providing the optical properties of the ice and snow can be determined.

As an input to such modelling, fieldwork was undertaken to determine the optical properties of McMurdo Sound first-year sea ice with increased reliability, and to try to determine the role of cracks in the propagation of radiant energy.

Publications

Bond, P.E. Optical propagation through sea-ice. Ph.D., University of Otago. 2001.

Bond, P.E., Langhorne, P.J. Fatigue behaviour of cantilever beams of saline ice. Journal of cold regions engineering 11(2): 99-112, 1997.