Abstract:

Synchronous or quasi synchronous three dimensional sea ice air comprehensive observation was conducted during China's First Arctic Expedition in summer of 1999. Based on the data from that expedition the role sea ice plays in sea air exchange was studied. The study shows that the kinds, distribution and thickness of sea ice significantly influence the sea air heat exchange. In floating ice area the sea sends heat to the atmosphere in form of latent heat; the latent heat flux has a close relation with the concentration of floating ice, the less floating ice there is, the greater latent heat flux is. The latent heat flux, which is about 21-23.6 W/m 2, is greater than sensible heat flux. On ice field or giant floating ice the atmosphere sends heat to the surface of ice or snow in form of sensible heat. The area of newly created floating ice or polynia is the area where sea air exchange is the most active, and the most sensible for the climate. Also the area is the most important condition for the creation of Arctic vapor fog. The heat exchange of a large scale vapor fog process was calculated by means of stratified atmospheric entire dynamic transportation method; and the result shows that the ocean sends heat at the power of about 14.8 billion kW to the atmosphere, which is 69 times as much as China's total electricity generating capacity or one twentieth of the average power of the heat transportation from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arctic Ocean. There are various kinds of sea fog forming in the Arctic Ocean during the summer, radiation fog, vapor fog and advection fog. One of the causes is the existence of the sea ice, which complicates the cushion and therefore the sea air exchange.