Modelling sea ice formation in the Terra Nova Bay polynya

Sansiviero, M.; Morales Maqueda, M.Á.; Fusco, G.; Aulicino, G.; Flocco, D.; Budillon, G.. 2017 Modelling sea ice formation in the Terra Nova Bay polynya. Journal of Marine Systems, 166. 4-25. 10.1016/j.jmarsys.2016.06.013

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2016.06.013

Abstract/Summary

Antarctic sea ice is constantly exported from the shore by strong near surface winds that open leads and large polynyas in the pack ice. The latter, known as wind-driven polynyas, are responsible for significant water mass modification due to the high salt flux into the ocean associated with enhanced ice growth. In this article, we focus on the wind-driven Terra Nova Bay (TNB) polynya, in the western Ross Sea. Brine rejected during sea ice formation processes that occur in the TNB polynya densifies the water column leading to the formation of the most characteristic water mass of the Ross Sea, the High Salinity Shelf Water (HSSW). This water mass, in turn, takes part in the formation of Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW), the densest water mass of the world ocean, which plays a major role in the global meridional overturning circulation, thus affecting the global climate system. A simple coupled sea ice–ocean model has been developed to simulate the seasonal cycle of sea ice formation and export within a polynya. The sea ice model accounts for both thermal and mechanical ice processes. The oceanic circulation is described by a one-and-a-half layer, reduced gravity model. The domain resolution is 1 km × 1 km, which is sufficient to represent the salient features of the coastline geometry, notably the Drygalski Ice Tongue. The model is forced by a combination of Era Interim reanalysis and in-situ data from automatic weather stations, and also by a climatological oceanic dataset developed from in situ hydrographic observations. The sensitivity of the polynya to the atmospheric forcing is well reproduced by the model when atmospheric in situ measurements are combined with reanalysis data. Merging the two datasets allows us to capture in detail the strength and the spatial distribution of the katabatic winds that often drive the opening of the polynya. The model resolves fairly accurately the sea ice drift and sea ice production rates in the TNB polynya, leading to realistic polynya extent estimates. The model-derived polynya extent has been validated by comparing the modelled sea ice concentration against MODIS high resolution satellite images, confirming that the model is able to reproduce reasonably well the TNB polynya evolution in terms of both shape and extent.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1016/j.jmarsys.2016.06.013
ISSN:	09247963
Additional Keywords:	Sea ice; Coupled model; Polynya; Katabatic wind
Date made live:	04 Apr 2017 10:39 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/516773

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1016/j.jmarsys.2016.06.013

ISSN:

09247963

Additional Keywords:

Sea ice; Coupled model; Polynya; Katabatic wind

Date made live:

04 Apr 2017 10:39 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/516773