The evolution of the upper water layer in the marginal ice zone, austral spring 1988, Scotia-Weddell Sea

A one-dimensional turbulent erosion model is presented to study the temporal behaviour of the upper layers of the water column in the marginal ice zone during ice retreat. Input parameters in the model are the regular meteorological observations on board, global radiation and ice cover estimates. The model results are validated by comparison with CTD-profiles measured during repeated sections through the marginal ice zone of the Weddell-Scotia Sea sector of the Southern Ocean, over a six week-period in the Austral spring 1988.