Experimental study of the interaction of the atmosphere with polynyas/sea ice near Greenland (IKAPOS)

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Processes of the exchange of energy and momentum at the sea-ice/ocean/atmosphere interface are key processes for the polar climate system. Heat and moisture fluxes are strongly modulated by open water fractions associated with polynyas, having important consequences for the atmosphere, ocean processes, ice formation, brine release, gas exchange and biology. The project aims at the study of the atmospheric processes forcing and maintaining polynyas in the Greenland area. The study will focus on the interaction between the katabatic wind system and the sea-ice/ocean system in the coastal area of north and northwest Greenland, and on the atmosphere/sea-ice/ocean exchange processes over the North Water Polynya (NOW). The main tool of the experimental study will be the polar aircraft of the Alfred-Wegener Institute (AWI). The experiment will be carried out in coordination with AWI and with the Canadian ArcticNet program, and is part of the International Polar Year (IPY). The data of the experiment will be used for the validation of model simulations and parameterisations.