Chinese Journal of Polar Research

ADVANCES IN POLAR SCIENCE ›› 2008, Vol. 19 ›› Issue (2-English): 108-122.

• Contents • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Snow and sea ice thermodynamics in the Arctic:Model validation and sensitivity study against SHEBA data

 Cheng Bin1,4, Timo Vihma1,4, Zhang Zhanhai3, Li Zhijun4 and Wu Huiding3   

  1. 1 Finnish Institute of Marine Research (FIMR), P. O. Box 33, FI-00931, Finland;
    2 Finnish Meteorological Institute, P. O. Box 503, FI-00101, Helsinki, Finland;
    3 State Oceanic Administration Key Laboratory for Polar Science, Polar Research Institute of China, Shanghai 200136, China;
    4 State Key Laboratory of Coastal and Offshore Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
  • Online:1958-06-30 Published:1958-06-30
  • Contact: Cheng Bin

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Abstract:

Evolution of the Arctic sea ice and its snow cover during the SHEBA year were simulated by applying a high-resolution thermodynamic snow/ice model (HIGHTSI). Attention was paid to the impact of albedo on snow and sea ice mass balance, effect of snow on total ice mass balance, and the model vertical resolution.  The SHEBA annual simulation was made applying the best possible external forcing data set created by the Sea Ice Model Intercomparison Project. The HIGHTSI control run reasonably reproduced the observed snow and ice thickness. A number of albedo schemes were incorporated into HIGHTSI to study the feedback processes between the albedo and snow and ice thickness. The snow thickness turned out to be an essential variable in the albedo parameterization. Albedo schemes dependent on the surface temperature were liable to excessive positive feedback effects generated by errors in the modelled surface temperature. The superimposed ice formation should be taken into account for the annual Arctic sea ice mass balance.

Key words: Arctic, sea ice, Model validation and sensitivity study, SHEBA data