Sensitivity of the Antarctic sea ice distribution to its advection in a general circulation model

Abstract

A dynamic-thermodynamic sea ice model is used and coupled with an atmospheric general circulation model to simulate the seasonal cycle of the global sea ice distribution. We have run the coupled system and obtain a creditable seasonal simulation of the Antarctic sea ice. To understand the role of ice advection on the seasonal cycle of Antarctic sea ice in the coupled system, results from the thermodynamic-only (T) sea ice model have been compared with those from the dynamic thermodynamic (DT) sea ice model. The seasonal cycle of sea ice differs between the two models. When ice motion is eliminated sea ice becomes more compact and thinner, and sea ice is more extensive in summer. A number of ..