The 5th Conference on Polar Meteorology and Oceanography

12.1
REGIONAL ATMOSPHERIC FORCING AND ICE RESPONSE DURING SHEBA

J E. Overland, Seattle, WA; and S. L. McNutt, J. Richter-Menge, B. C. Elder, S. Salo, and J. Groves

The field program for SHEBA began with more ice in the Beaufort Sea than in the previous SIMI project in 1993-94. The meteorological seasons appeared earlier in 1997-98 than 1993-94 with a major southward event occurring in December compared to February during SIMI. The character of the forcing was qualitatively different. SIMI had a sequence of 3-5 day storm systems, while SHEBA had persisent northerly winds for 3 weeks in December followed by 3 weeks of rather strong easterly winds in January.

In the presentation the track of the camp will be discussed in terms of the major meterological events. We will relate the events to regional forcing for the single column model and regional ice motion from the RADARSAT SAR

The 5th Conference on Polar Meteorology and Oceanography