Iceberg‐Generated Waves From SWOT: Disintegration of Iceberg A‐76A in the Southern Ocean

Abstract

Abstract Amid rising global temperatures, icebergs are calving more often and drifting into open waters. Their disintegration processes can trigger energetic surface gravity waves that propagate away from the iceberg remain poorly documented. This study presents an analysis of 12 iceberg‐generated wave fields associated with the disintegration of iceberg A‐76A, utilizing sea surface height anomaly data from the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission. We analyzed wave height, wavelength, depth regime, and Time Since Impact (TSI) using wavelet scalograms matched to dispersion curves. Waves fell within the linear intermediate‐to‐deep‐water regime, aligning with findings from Heller et al. (2019, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598‐018‐36634‐3 ). Correlation found between steepness and TSI, as expected from theory. Preliminary results suggest the potential to infer calving mechanisms and direction from the scalograms. Despite SWOT's limited temporal resolution, demonstrates its unique ability to detect iceberg‐generated and novel view iceberg–ocean interactions, supporting future research with enhanced data and processing capabilities.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Geophysical Research Letters, 2026 · DOI ↗