Sea Ice Modeling: Characteristics and Processes Critical for the Radiation Budget
This webinar was organized by the Sea Ice Prediction Network Leadership Team. It provided an overview that included topics in sea ice modeling from the global climate modeling perspective and recent development within the Los Alamos Sea Ice Model CICE (aslo known as the Community Ice CodE) to more accurately represent sea ice characteristics and processes critical for the radiation budget of the ice pack.
Formed from frozen seawater rich in biological and chemical species, sea ice exists as a thin layer at the interface of the ocean and atmosphere, quite sensitive to small changes in temperature and radiative forcing. The high albedo of the ice pack is critical for the Earth's heat balance, and ice motion across the ocean's surface transports fresh water and salt. The basic components in a complete sea ice model must include both vertical thermodynamics and horizontal dynamics.
Webinar Presenters:
Elizabeth Hunke
Los Alamos National Laboratory