HR: 10:35h
AN: C22A-02 INVITED    [Abstracts]
TI: The Role of Sea Ice Dynamics in the Recent Decline of Arctic Sea Ice
AU: * Zhang, J
EM: zhang@apl.washington.edu
AF: University of Washington/APL, 1013 NE 40th St, Seattle, WA 98105,
AB: Significant decline of Arctic sea ice has been detected in recent years. What is the role of sea ice dynamics in such a decline? In an attempt to answer this question, a retrospective investigation has been carried out, which consists of a model hindcast of the arctic ice-ocean system from 1948 to 2007 using a Pan-Arctic Ice-Ocean Modeling and Assimilation System (PIOMAS). We will investigate whether and to what degree sea ice dynamics contributes to the recent retreating of the arctic ice cover. We will diagnose possible changes in PIOMAS in ice strength, motion, deformation, internal stress, ridging, advection, and outflow, and explore how these changes may affect the ice mass balance of the Arctic Ocean in a changing environment. We will also examine the interplay between ice dynamics and thermodynamics that determine the extent and thickness of the ice cover. In addition, some model-data comparisons will be shown.
DE: 4207 Arctic and Antarctic oceanography (9310, 9315)
DE: 4255 Numerical modeling (0545, 0560)
DE: 4540 Ice mechanics and air/sea/ice exchange processes (0700, 0750, 0752, 0754)
SC: Cryosphere [C]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting