Numerical simulations of ice thickness redistribution and ice drift in the Gulf of St. Lawrence

• Main Authors: Kubat, Ivana, Sayed, Mohamed
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: National Research Council Canada 2009
• Subjects: Arctic; Canadian Arctic Archipelago; Canada; Arctic Archipelago; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.4224/20178992; https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/object/?id=3c76ab57-c611-473d-8905-74d625b75329

Canadian Hydraulics Centre of National Research Council of Canada (NRC-CHC) in collaboration with Canadian Ice Service (CIS) of Environment Canada developed an ice forecasting model. Development of this model was initiated to respond to CIS navigation requirements for shipping and navigation in Canadian Arctic. The ice conditions in Canadian Arctic Archipelago are unique due to presence of multi-year ice, ridging, rafting, formation and collapse of ice bridges in the narrow and converging channels, leads opening, and ice pressure build up. Since ice thickness redistribution due to deformation of ice cover is an essential component of high resolution ice forecasting, a parameterization of all the complex processes must be used in order to account for thickness redistribution and lead openings. The NRC-CHC ice forecasting model deals with these processes through thickness distribution model. That model is an important component of the ice forecasting model. It accounts for continuous evolution of ice thickness and concentration and for the transfer from level to ridged ice. Convergence and shear deformation of the ice cover are considered to transfer part of the level ice into ridged ice. This report presents validation of the NRC-CHC ice thickness redistribution model with field data. The results show that the field observations and model predictions are in a good agreement and that model simulations were able to predict deformation and drift of the sea ice.