Evaluation of the use of fractional sea ice for Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) simulations across the Arctic

One of the primary areas of polar modifications to the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is the inclusion of fractional sea ice. The fractional sea ice modifications results in the surface boundary layer routine being called separately for ice and liquid, and weighted based on the fractional sea ice concentration for each grid cell. This study evaluates the impacts of using the fractional sea ice by conducting simulations across the Arctic and comparing the results against observations. Simulations are conducted over several months during the year to capture the variation in sea ice conditions. The simulations are also compared against observations at several locations to account for differences and impacts of the local sea ice conditions. The conclusions provide a better understanding as to benefits of using the fractional sea ice polar modifications.