Collaborative Research: The Role of Ice-Ocean Exchange in Ice-Albedo Feedback

Mcphee Research Company, Naches WA

Investigators

Abstract

This research will examine and quantify the impact of ice-ocean heat exchange on the ice-albedo feedback mechanism using SHEBA data and a hierarchy of ice-ocean models ranging from simple turbulence scaling to large eddy simulations. The role of under-ice roughness altering the vertical turbulent fluxes of heat, of open water conditions found in leads, and of summer-time melt-water stratification in would be investigated. Improved parameterizations for this heat exchange over area scales of 10-100 km would be developed for use in large scale regional and global models. These parameterizations would then be tested in these larger scale models. The results will lead to be forecast capability of global ocean-climate models.