Towards Validating Wave-Ice Interactions in Climate Models Using In Situ Observations

Abstract:

The retreat of Arctic sea ice coincides with increased ocean surface wave activity, and wave-ice interactions are consequently poised to have a growing influence on the Arctic climate system. Recent field campaigns have focused on rectifying the scarcity of wave measurements inside the marginal ice zone, and work is now underway to incorporate wave-ice interactions in global climate models. Here, we apply a collection of in situ wave observations spanning multiple years in the Beaufort Sea and including wave activity beyond 100 kilometers inside the sea ice edge. To better understand waves in the presence of sea ice, we connect the in situ data with satellite-derived ice concentrations across the Arctic and compare the observations with a recent global climate model experiment that includes coupled interactions between waves and a sea ice floe size distribution. We present a series of new sensitivity experiments in the coupled wave-ice model that test various wave attenuation schemes and coupling frequencies to assess the impact of uncertainty in wave-ice physics on the width of the marginal ice zone. Our work provides insights to guide both further model development and future observational campaigns.