Pronetopilling

Pronetopilling is a Japanese term used to describe the topological features of sea ice floes. It is an essential concept in the field of ice-ocean interaction, particularly in the context of sea ice thickness and deformation. Pronetopilling has gained attention in recent years due to its relevance in understanding regional sea ice variations and the impact of climate change on polar ecosystems.

Pronetopilling refers to the occurrence of net fluxes in the sea ice cover, resulting in the redistribution of mass over the ice floe. This process occurs when the surface stress acting on the ice floe causes a shift in the ice's equilibrium position. As a result, water is either released from the ice (known as a "nettopilling event") or accepted into the ice, enlarging the floe ("netuptopilling event"). The time scales associated with these events vary greatly, from hours to days, depending on factors such as ice thickness, surface temperature, and regional currents.

Pronetopilling has gained importance in recent years due to its potential implications for global sea level rise. Changes in the polar ice caps' geometry are significantly influenced by these net fluxes, which can lead to large variations in ice volume flux. Consequently, understanding the factors controlling nettopilling and netuptopilling events is critical for refining storm surge and sea level rise forecasts, ultimately contributing to more accurate predictions of climate change impacts. Research into pronetopilling requires a multidisciplinary approach, integrating observational and modeling studies, as well as data analysis and experimentation.