The 5th Conference on Polar Meteorology and Oceanography

13.5
PRELIMINARY COMPARISONS OF AN ICE-THICKNESS DISTRIBUTION MODEL WITH SHEBA DATA

Julie L. Schramm, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO; and J. A. Curry and T. Arbetter

A single-cell ice thickness distribution model has been under development by our research group for the past 5 years. Relative to our most recently published worked, improved parameterizations have been developed and implemented for snow and subgrid-scale dynamics. The model has also been modified for high frequency forcing by surface fluxes and ice dynamics. We will force the ice model with surface radiative fluxes, precipitation, surface winds, temperature and humidity, ice dynamics, and ocean data obtained over an annual cycle during SHEBA. We will compare the model results with available SHEBA observations of lead fraction, ice thickness distribution, snow characteristics, surface albedo and temperature, and melt ponds to assess the model parameterizations. Variations of snow, surface temperature, albedo and net heat flux over the ice thickness distribution and over the annual cycle will be evaluated and interpreted

The 5th Conference on Polar Meteorology and Oceanography