Abstract ID: 3.12296 | Accepted as Talk | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

Land-terminating ice cliffs present a unique challenge for understanding boundary layer dynamics over complex terrain. Their vertical structure disrupts conventional boundary layer assumptions, altering turbulent fluxes of heat and moisture that drive melt processes. Unlike homogeneous and flat surfaces, ice cliffs are subject to pronounced flow separation, recirculation zones, and localized turbulence effects, complicating the characterization of turbulent transport. Our research examines boundary layer flows over ice cliffs in two distinct environments: northern Greenland and Kilimanjaro. The Greenland site provides long-term low-frequency temperature and humidity measurements, capturing microclimatic variability at a polar ice cliff. The Kilimanjaro dataset, collected during a 40-hour campaign, includes high-frequency turbulence data from 3D sonic anemometers positioned on and in front of the cliff. This allows for detailed analysis of turbulence characteristics, including flux partitioning, mean flow direction, and coordinate rotation challenges over vertical surfaces. By comparing these two datasets, we investigate whether low-frequency measurements can adequately capture turbulent exchange and assess the implications for modeling ice cliff melt. Our findings contribute to the broader understanding of turbulent transport over steep and heterogeneous terrain, highlighting the complexities introduced by vertical ice faces. This work provides insight into boundary layer processes at ice cliffs and informs strategies for measuring and modeling turbulence in similarly complex environments.