A dynamic sea ice model based on the formation direction of leads

A dynamic ice model is presented using a novel approach where the memory of weak directions in the ice cover is stored. The model computes ice motion, ice deformation and the associated dynamic ice production without the need of a full two dimensional computation. The ice dynamics is based on a viscous-plastic approach in a marginal ice zone with both compressive and shear stresses. The method is very computational efficient but is likely restricted to basin scales of semi size with relatively coherent wind forcing over the basin. The model is applied to the Bothnian Bay of the Baltic Sea and coupled with an ocean model. The results show good agreement when compared against measurements of ice velocity from an upward looking ADCP deployed in the center of the Bothnian Bay and observations from ice charts. As a model application, the dynamic ice production that occurs in addition to the pure thermodynamic growth in a deforming ice cover has been computed over the period 1991–2004. The results show that the dynamic ice production typically increases the ice volume with 80% over the simulation period.