Improving Parameterizations in Climate Models of Sub-Grid-Scale Processes in the Upper-Ocean Waters of the Arctic using SHEBA Data

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This research project will improve the representation of Arctic upper-ocean - sea-ice processes in global climate models. An existing general circulation model of the oceans of a resolution to describe meso-scale surface ocean eddies would be used. It will be coupled to a model of sea-ice circulation and sea-ice thermodynamics which quantity the seasonal processes of sea-ice formation and melting. An atmospheric boundary layer model would be included which would define the balances between visible and infrared radiation, winds, and atmospheric conditions near the sea-ice boundary. The model would then be used to test simplified parameterizations of the ice-albedo feedback and of ocean mixed layer dynamics to see which parameterizations best describe conditions observed during the year-long SHEBA experiment. The parameterizations which best fit the SHEBA data would then be utilized to examine role of meso-scale surface ocean eddies on ice dynamics and its impact on the ice-albedo feedback. These studies will result in better descriptions of the Arctic Ocean in global climate models.