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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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:3f0b0bcad8bf42bb900b3bc86660b3d1 2023-05-15T13:32:09+02:00 Version 1 of a sea ice module for the physics-based, detailed, multi-layer SNOWPACK model N. Wever L. Rossmann N. Maaß K. C. Leonard L. Kaleschke M. Nicolaus M. Lehning 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-13-99-2020 https://doaj.org/article/3f0b0bcad8bf42bb900b3bc86660b3d1 EN eng Copernicus Publications https://www.geosci-model-dev.net/13/99/2020/gmd-13-99-2020.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1991-959X https://doaj.org/toc/1991-9603 doi:10.5194/gmd-13-99-2020 1991-959X 1991-9603 https://doaj.org/article/3f0b0bcad8bf42bb900b3bc86660b3d1 Geoscientific Model Development, Vol 13, Pp 99-119 (2020) Geology QE1-996.5 article 2020 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-13-99-2020 2022-12-31T14:11:10Z 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. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctica Sea ice Weddell Sea Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Weddell Weddell Sea Geoscientific Model Development 13 1 99 119 |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Geology QE1-996.5 |
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Geology QE1-996.5 N. Wever L. Rossmann N. Maaß K. C. Leonard L. Kaleschke M. Nicolaus M. Lehning Version 1 of a sea ice module for the physics-based, detailed, multi-layer SNOWPACK model |
topic_facet |
Geology QE1-996.5 |
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 |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
N. Wever L. Rossmann N. Maaß K. C. Leonard L. Kaleschke M. Nicolaus M. Lehning |
author_facet |
N. Wever L. Rossmann N. Maaß K. C. Leonard L. Kaleschke M. Nicolaus M. Lehning |
author_sort |
N. Wever |
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 |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-13-99-2020 https://doaj.org/article/3f0b0bcad8bf42bb900b3bc86660b3d1 |
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 |
Geoscientific Model Development, Vol 13, Pp 99-119 (2020) |
op_relation |
https://www.geosci-model-dev.net/13/99/2020/gmd-13-99-2020.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1991-959X https://doaj.org/toc/1991-9603 doi:10.5194/gmd-13-99-2020 1991-959X 1991-9603 https://doaj.org/article/3f0b0bcad8bf42bb900b3bc86660b3d1 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-13-99-2020 |
container_title |
Geoscientific Model Development |
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13 |
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99 |
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119 |
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