Coupling of Waves, Turbulence and Thermodynamics Across the Marginal Ice Zone

• Main Author: Stanton, Tim
• Other Authors: NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA DEPT OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: Atmospheric Physics; Physical and Dynamic Oceanography; Snow; Ice and Permafrost; Thermodynamics; *MARGINAL ICE ZONES; *OCEAN WAVES; *THERMODYNAMICS; *TURBULENCE; ARCTIC REGIONS; BOUNDARY LAYER; BUOYS; COUPLING(INTERACTION); MATHEMATICAL MODELS; SOLAR RADIATION; SURFACE WAVES; MIZ(MARGINAL ICE ZONES); AOFB(AUTONOMOUS OCEAN FLUX BUOYS); ATMOSPHERIC BOUNDARY LAYER; OCEANIC SURFACE BOUNDARY LAYER; Arctic; Ice; permafrost; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA601281; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA601281

Detailed process studies of the MIZ are necessary to build accurate Arctic region ice-ocean-atmosphere numerical models. Streove et al. (2007) provide an example of the challenges of modeling the Arctic ice-ocean-atmosphere system - current global circulation models under-predict the observed trend of declining sea ice area over the last decade. A potential explanation for this under-prediction is that models are missing important feedbacks within the ocean-ice system. Results from the proposed research will contribute to improving the upper ocean and sea ice physics contained in regional and global circulation models. Objectives are to: 1. Understand coupling of surface-wave-driven mechanical forcing and solar-radiation-driven thermodynamic forcing in the marginal ice zone. 2. Identify forcing mechanisms and quantify vertical mixing rates at the base of the ocean surface layer across the marginal ice zone. 3. Identify changes in the atmospheric boundary layer and oceanic surface boundary layer in response to local ice-floe changes as the MIZ evolves.