Version 1 of a sea ice module for the physics-based, detailed, multi-layer SNOWPACK model

Sea ice is an important component of the global climate system. The presence of a snowpack covering sea ice can strongly modify the thermodynamic behavior of the sea ice, due to the low thermal conductivity and high albedo of snow. The snowpack can be stratified and change properties (density, water...

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Published in:Geoscientific Model Development
Main Authors: Wever, Nander, Rossmann, Leonard, Maaß, Nina, Leonard, Katherine C., Kaleschke, Lars, Nicolaus, Marcel, Lehning, Michael
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 2020
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-13-99-2020
https://gmd.copernicus.org/articles/13/99/2020/
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spelling ftcopernicus:oai:publications.copernicus.org:gmd75696 2023-05-15T13:55:28+02:00 Version 1 of a sea ice module for the physics-based, detailed, multi-layer SNOWPACK model Wever, Nander Rossmann, Leonard Maaß, Nina Leonard, Katherine C. Kaleschke, Lars Nicolaus, Marcel Lehning, Michael 2020-01-10 application/pdf https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-13-99-2020 https://gmd.copernicus.org/articles/13/99/2020/ eng eng doi:10.5194/gmd-13-99-2020 https://gmd.copernicus.org/articles/13/99/2020/ eISSN: 1991-9603 Text 2020 ftcopernicus https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-13-99-2020 2020-07-20T16:22:31Z Sea ice is an important component of the global climate system. The presence of a snowpack covering sea ice can strongly modify the thermodynamic behavior of the sea ice, due to the low thermal conductivity and high albedo of snow. The snowpack can be stratified and change properties (density, water content, grain size and shape) throughout the seasons. Melting snow provides freshwater which can form melt ponds or cause flushing of salt out of the underlying sea ice, while flooding of the snow layer by saline ocean water can strongly impact both the ice mass balance and the freezing point of the snow. To capture the complex dynamics from the snowpack, we introduce modifications to the physics-based, multi-layer SNOWPACK model to simulate the snow–sea-ice system. Adaptations to the model thermodynamics and a description of water and salt transport through the snow–sea-ice system by coupling the transport equation to the Richards equation were added. These modifications allow the snow microstructure descriptions developed in the SNOWPACK model to be applied to sea ice conditions as well. Here, we drive the model with data from snow and ice mass-balance buoys installed in the Weddell Sea in Antarctica. The model is able to simulate the temporal evolution of snow density, grain size and shape, and snow wetness. The model simulations show abundant depth hoar layers and melt layers, as well as superimposed ice formation due to flooding and percolation. Gravity drainage of dense brine is underestimated as convective processes are so far neglected. Furthermore, with increasing model complexity, detailed forcing data for the simulations are required, which are difficult to acquire due to limited observations in polar regions. Text Antarc* Antarctica Sea ice Weddell Sea Copernicus Publications: E-Journals Weddell Weddell Sea Geoscientific Model Development 13 1 99 119
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description Sea ice is an important component of the global climate system. The presence of a snowpack covering sea ice can strongly modify the thermodynamic behavior of the sea ice, due to the low thermal conductivity and high albedo of snow. The snowpack can be stratified and change properties (density, water content, grain size and shape) throughout the seasons. Melting snow provides freshwater which can form melt ponds or cause flushing of salt out of the underlying sea ice, while flooding of the snow layer by saline ocean water can strongly impact both the ice mass balance and the freezing point of the snow. To capture the complex dynamics from the snowpack, we introduce modifications to the physics-based, multi-layer SNOWPACK model to simulate the snow–sea-ice system. Adaptations to the model thermodynamics and a description of water and salt transport through the snow–sea-ice system by coupling the transport equation to the Richards equation were added. These modifications allow the snow microstructure descriptions developed in the SNOWPACK model to be applied to sea ice conditions as well. Here, we drive the model with data from snow and ice mass-balance buoys installed in the Weddell Sea in Antarctica. The model is able to simulate the temporal evolution of snow density, grain size and shape, and snow wetness. The model simulations show abundant depth hoar layers and melt layers, as well as superimposed ice formation due to flooding and percolation. Gravity drainage of dense brine is underestimated as convective processes are so far neglected. Furthermore, with increasing model complexity, detailed forcing data for the simulations are required, which are difficult to acquire due to limited observations in polar regions.
format Text
author Wever, Nander
Rossmann, Leonard
Maaß, Nina
Leonard, Katherine C.
Kaleschke, Lars
Nicolaus, Marcel
Lehning, Michael
spellingShingle Wever, Nander
Rossmann, Leonard
Maaß, Nina
Leonard, Katherine C.
Kaleschke, Lars
Nicolaus, Marcel
Lehning, Michael
Version 1 of a sea ice module for the physics-based, detailed, multi-layer SNOWPACK model
author_facet Wever, Nander
Rossmann, Leonard
Maaß, Nina
Leonard, Katherine C.
Kaleschke, Lars
Nicolaus, Marcel
Lehning, Michael
author_sort Wever, Nander
title Version 1 of a sea ice module for the physics-based, detailed, multi-layer SNOWPACK model
title_short Version 1 of a sea ice module for the physics-based, detailed, multi-layer SNOWPACK model
title_full Version 1 of a sea ice module for the physics-based, detailed, multi-layer SNOWPACK model
title_fullStr Version 1 of a sea ice module for the physics-based, detailed, multi-layer SNOWPACK model
title_full_unstemmed Version 1 of a sea ice module for the physics-based, detailed, multi-layer SNOWPACK model
title_sort version 1 of a sea ice module for the physics-based, detailed, multi-layer snowpack model
publishDate 2020
url https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-13-99-2020
https://gmd.copernicus.org/articles/13/99/2020/
geographic Weddell
Weddell Sea
geographic_facet Weddell
Weddell Sea
genre Antarc*
Antarctica
Sea ice
Weddell Sea
genre_facet Antarc*
Antarctica
Sea ice
Weddell Sea
op_source eISSN: 1991-9603
op_relation doi:10.5194/gmd-13-99-2020
https://gmd.copernicus.org/articles/13/99/2020/
op_doi https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-13-99-2020
container_title Geoscientific Model Development
container_volume 13
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container_start_page 99
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