Sensitivity of ice drift to form drag and ice strength parameterization in a coupled ice–ocean model

Kamel Chikhar, Jean-François Lemieux, Frédéric Dupont, François Roy, Gregory C. Smith, Michael Brady, Stephen E. L. Howell, and Rodrigue Beaini (2019). Sensitivity of ice drift to form drag and ice strength parameterization in a coupled ice–ocean model. Atmosphere-Ocean. https://doi.org/10.1080/07055900.2019.1694859
Authors

Kamel Chikhar

Jean-François Lemieux

Frédéric Dupont

François Roy

Gregory C. Smith

Michael Brady

Stephen E. L. Howell

Rodrigue Beaini

Published

December 19, 2019

Doi
Abstract
A pan-Arctic sea-ice–ocean prediction system is assessed in terms of its ability to predict sea-ice velocity. This system is based on the Regional Ice Ocean Prediction System running operationally at the Canadian Centre for Meteorological and Environmental Prediction. A form drag parameterization is implemented in the system to allow spatially and temporally varying neutral drag coefficients depending on the sea-ice morphological characteristics. Simulated ice velocity is assessed using data from the International Arctic Buoy Programme, as well as ice motion derived from Environment and Climate Change Canada’s synthetic aperture radar automated ice-tracking system. Results indicate that introducing the form drag parameterization systematically increases the sea-ice velocity and exacerbates a positive bias in summer already present in the previous version in which constant neutral drag coefficients were used. The ice strength parameterization used in the model rheology is found to affect the simulated ice drift significantly. Introducing modifications to the ice strength formulation and the empirical parameters helped alleviate the ice velocity bias.

Type: Journal Article Venue: Atmosphere-Ocean Year: 2019

DOI URL BibTeX

Abstract

A pan-Arctic sea-ice–ocean prediction system is assessed in terms of its ability to predict sea-ice velocity. This system is based on the Regional Ice Ocean Prediction System running operationally at the Canadian Centre for Meteorological and Environmental Prediction. A form drag parameterization is implemented in the system to allow spatially and temporally varying neutral drag coefficients depending on the sea-ice morphological characteristics. Simulated ice velocity is assessed using data from the International Arctic Buoy Programme, as well as ice motion derived from Environment and Climate Change Canada’s synthetic aperture radar automated ice-tracking system. Results indicate that introducing the form drag parameterization systematically increases the sea-ice velocity and exacerbates a positive bias in summer already present in the previous version in which constant neutral drag coefficients were used. The ice strength parameterization used in the model rheology is found to affect the simulated ice drift significantly. Introducing modifications to the ice strength formulation and the empirical parameters helped alleviate the ice velocity bias.

Citation

Kamel Chikhar, Jean-François Lemieux, Frédéric Dupont, François Roy, Gregory C. Smith, Michael Brady, Stephen E. L. Howell, and Rodrigue Beaini (2019). Sensitivity of ice drift to form drag and ice strength parameterization in a coupled ice–ocean model. Atmosphere-Ocean. https://doi.org/10.1080/07055900.2019.1694859

BibTeX

@article{chikhar_sensitivity_2019,
    title = {Sensitivity of Ice Drift to Form Drag and Ice Strength Parameterization in a Coupled Ice–Ocean Model},
    volume = {57},
    url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/07055900.2019.1694859},
    doi = {10.1080/07055900.2019.1694859},
    abstract = {A pan-Arctic sea-ice–ocean prediction system is assessed in terms of its ability to predict sea-ice velocity. This system is based on the Regional Ice Ocean Prediction System running operationally at the Canadian Centre for Meteorological and Environmental Prediction. A form drag parameterization is implemented in the system to allow spatially and temporally varying neutral drag coefficients depending on the sea-ice morphological characteristics. Simulated ice velocity is assessed using data from the International Arctic Buoy Programme, as well as ice motion derived from Environment and Climate Change Canada’s synthetic aperture radar automated ice-tracking system. Results indicate that introducing the form drag parameterization systematically increases the sea-ice velocity and exacerbates a positive bias in summer already present in the previous version in which constant neutral drag coefficients were used. The ice strength parameterization used in the model rheology is found to affect the simulated ice drift significantly. Introducing modifications to the ice strength formulation and the empirical parameters helped alleviate the ice velocity bias.},
    pages = {329--349},
    number = {5},
    journaltitle = {Atmosphere-Ocean},
    publisher = {Taylor \& Francis},
    author = {Chikhar, Kamel and Lemieux, Jean-François and Dupont, Frédéric and Roy, François and Smith, Gregory C. and Brady, Michael and Howell, Stephen E. L. and Beaini, Rodrigue},
    date = {2019-12-19},
    note = {\_eprint: https://doi.org/10.1080/07055900.2019.1694859},
}

Notes