Open AccessImpact of atmospheric forcing data on simulations of the Laptev Sea polynya dynamics using the sea‐ice ocean model FESOM
Author(s) -
Ernsdorf T.,
Schröder D.,
Adams S.,
Heinemann G.,
Timmermann R.,
Danilov S.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: oceans
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2010jc006725
Subject(s) - sea ice , forcing (mathematics) , climatology , environmental science , arctic , arctic ice pack , sea ice thickness , atmospheric sciences , meteorology , geology , oceanography , geography
The polynyas of the Laptev Sea are regions of particular interest due to the strong formation of Arctic sea‐ice. In order to simulate the polynya dynamics and to quantify ice production, we apply the Finite Element Sea‐Ice Ocean Model FESOM. In previous simulations FESOM has been forced with daily atmospheric NCEP (National Centers for Environmental Prediction) 1. For the periods 1 April to 9 May 2008 and 1 January to 8 February 2009 we examine the impact of different forcing data: daily and 6‐hourly NCEP reanalyses 1 (1.875° × 1.875°), 6‐hourly NCEP reanalyses 2 (1.875° × 1.875°), 6‐hourly analyses from the GME (Global Model of the German Weather Service) (0.5° × 0.5°) and high‐resolution hourly COSMO (Consortium for Small‐Scale Modeling) data (5 km × 5 km). In all FESOM simulations, except for those with 6‐hourly and daily NCEP 1 data, the openings and closings of polynyas are simulated in principle agreement with satellite products. Over the fast‐ice area the wind fields of all atmospheric data are similar and close to in situ measurements. Over the polynya areas, however, there are strong differences between the forcing data with respect to air temperature and turbulent heat flux. These differences have a strong impact on sea‐ice production rates. Depending on the forcing fields polynya ice production ranges from 1.4 km 3 to 7.8 km 3 during 1 April to 9 May 2011 and from 25.7 km 3 to 66.2 km 3 during 1 January to 8 February 2009. Therefore, atmospheric forcing data with high spatial and temporal resolution which account for the presence of the polynyas are needed to reduce the uncertainty in quantifying ice production in polynyas.