  Wave attenuation by ice floes is an important parameter for modelling the
Arctic Oceans. At present, attenuation coefficients are extracted from linear
models as a function of the incident wave period and floe thickness. Recent
explorations in the Antarctic Mixed Ice Zone (MIZ) revealed a further
dependence on wave amplitude, suggesting that nonlinear contributions are
non-negligible. An experimental model for wave attenuation by a single ice floe
in a wave flume is here presented. Observations are compared with linear
predictions based on wave scattering. Results indicate that linear models
perform well under the effect of gently sloping waves. For more energetic wave
fields, however, transmitted wave height is normally over predicted. Deviations
from linearity appear to be related to an enhancement of wave dissipation
induced by unaccounted wave-ice interaction processes, including the floe over
wash.
