Interannual and Climatic Characteristics of an Ice Ocean Circulation Model

Abstract

In the high latitudes sea ice and the underlying ocean form a tightly coupled system with the ocean circulation modifying the sea ice characteristics, and the sea ice dynamics and thermodynamics affecting the ocean circulation. A framework for examining this system was developed by Hibler and Bryan (1987) who constructed a coupled diagnostic ice-ocean model and examined the seasonal characteristics of this coupled model. A major result of the Hibler and Bryan (1987) study was that inclusion of oceanic circulation effects is critical for simulating the ice margin in the Greenland, Norwegian and Barents Seas. However an issue not addressed by Hibler and Bryan (1987) was the extent to which this model can be used to simulate interannual variations of the ice margin. Also some of the longer term climatic characteristics of the model were not addressed and the crude resolution of the model together with lack of inflow boundary conditions produced poorly balanced salt and heat budgets.