Author(s): Chia-Ren Chu; Cheng-Han Yu; Hwa Chien

Linked Author(s): Chia-Ren Chu

Keywords: Ice melting Water current Large Eddy simulation Heat transfer

Abstract: It is well known that global warming has led to rising temperatures worldwide and ice melting in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Between 1994 and 2017, the ice melting caused a 35 mm rise in global sea levels (Slater et al., 2021). In addition, the opening of new shipping routes in the Arctic Sea has spurred growing research interest in the melting of Arctic ice. However, a substantial discrepancy exists between the melting rates predicted by models and those actually observed in the Arctic (FitzMaurice et al., 2016). Previous studies have shown that the breakup and melting of floating ice are affected by numerous positive feedback mechanisms, including absorbed solar radiation, water temperatures, surface waves, and ocean currents (El-Tahan et al., 2017; Cenedese and Straneo, 2023). This study employs laboratory experiments and a Large Eddy Simulation (LES) model to investigate the melting process of ice floes in both freshwater and saltwater currents. The experimental and numerical results indicate that the melting rate and convective heat transfer coefficient between the water and ice are proportional to the current velocity. The dimensionless Nusselt number and Prandtl number can be used to predict the heat transfer coefficient and the melting rate of floating ice.

DOI:

Year: 2025