On the generation of internal waves beneath sea ice by a moving load

In this paper we analyze the internal waves generated in a two-layer model of an ice-covered polar ocean or lake by a moving, steady or vibrating load. For a sufficiently slow speed, the steady load produces waves on the interface that are trapped near the load; above a critical speed these interfacial waves are larger ahead of the load than behind it. For a vibrating load surface and interfacial waves always exist and no waves are trapped. A load that moves very slowly and vibrates with a long period may resonantly excite internal waves. Although atmospheric boundary layer winds may excite waves in sea ice, the resulting internal waves are too small to be an important mechanism in the generation of observed internal waves in polar oceans.