Mizex A Program For Mesoscale Air Ice Ocean Interaction Experiments In Arctic Marginal Ice Zones Iii Modeling The Marginal Ice Zone

The main goal of the marginal ice zone experiment (MIZEX) is to understand the processes that dictate the advance and retreat of the ice margin. Mechanistic model sensitivity studies can greatly aid in this goal by identifying the relative importance of different processes in the total system. In addition, more complete simulation models can be used both to test the adequacy of current understanding of the marginal ice zone and to serve as an integrating device for complex data sets. This volume contains the main results from a MIZEX modeling workshop held 18-20 October in Hanover, New Hampshire. Modelers interested in both Arctic and Antarctic sea ice were present. The purpose of the workshop was to determine the status of marginal ice zone modeling and to discuss different views on modeling processes in the MIZ. Results from full simulation models, mechanistic models, and empirical statistical models were presented and discussed. In addition, recommendations relevant to experimental measurements were made. The recommendations were divided into ocean, ice, and atmospheric categories; these were also the three main subject areas covered by the presentations. Overall, the workshop helped to identify areas where further simulations are needed to test our understanding and where knowledge of certain processes is lacking.

This document describes the research strategy for a series of mesoscale studies of Arctic marginal ice zones. The main goal of this program is to gain a better understanding of the processes occurring at the ice margin. These processes are relevant to climate, weather forecasting, petroleum exploration and production, marine transportation, naval operations, and commercial fisheries. In addition, MIZEX will aid in determining what modifications to existing ice-ocean-atmospheric models are needed for better prediction near the ice margin. These goals are consistent with recommendations made by international scientific bodies, most notably those of the Joint Scientific Committee (JSC) in its plan for the World Climate Research Programme (WMO-ICSU, 1981). In this document the JSC states that for improved modeling it is necessary: 'To study the physical processes affecting interactions between air, ice and sea at the sea-ice margin and to develop methods for their adequate representation in climate models.' More specific details on initial field programs will be addressed in planning meetings in the near future. In addition, it is anticipated that other aspects of the program, such as modeling, will be addressed in future workshops, with the results distributed in a similar format to this research strategy.

Partial Contents: Observations of Ice and Snow in the Eastern Part of the Chukchi Sea; Temperature and Salinity Observations in the Bering Sea Winter MIZ; Regional Ice Drift during MIZEX-West; Ice Dispersion in the Bering Sea Marginal Ice Zone; Motion of Ice Edge Radar Transponders during MIZEX=West; Bottom Ablation Measurements of Air-Ice Drag Coefficients; Geostrophic Drag of High Latitude Atmospheric Boundary Layer; NASA CV-900 Aircraft Observations during MIZEX-West; Measurement of the Complex Refractive Index of First-Year Sea Ice and Snow Using a Microwave Untuned Cavity; Fluctuations of Flow through Bering Strait; Theory of Wind-Driven Coastal Polynyas.

The present plan is motivated by the need to improve our understanding of the fundamentals of acoustic propagation, noise, and electromagnetic remote sensing in the winter marginal ice zone (MIZ). The plan strongly emphasizes oceanography, ice dynamics, and meteorology. In fact, the latter disciplines must be deeply enough researched to resolve fundamental questions entailing air/ice/ocean interaction, heat and mass exchanges and balances, growth and decay of ice-edge eddies, etc. Detailed scientific objectives are examined for oceanography, meteorology, ice physics, remote sensing, and acoustics together with detailed experimental plans, and a discussion of logistics for these experiments.

Contents: A Note on Estimating Melt Rate in the MIZ; Kinematics of Marginal Ice: MIZEX 83; On Estimating Ice Stress from MIZEX 83 Ice Deformation and Current Measurements; Crystal Structure of Fram Strait Sea Ice; MIZEX 84 Ice Surface Measurements from the FS Polarstern; 1984-85 Current Observations in the East Greenland Current: A Preliminary Description; An Ice/Air Feedback Mechanism for the Migration of the Marginal Ice Zone; The Planetary Boundary Layer in the Marginal Ice Zone; and An Air Ice Ocean Coupled Model for the Formation of Leads or Polynyas.

Contents: Oceanography; Ice; Meteorology; Remote Sensing; Acoustics; Biology.

Contents: Significance of the marginal ice zone; MIZ processes, models and scientific questions; Remote sensing; Strategy of the experiment; Collateral programs; Appendix A: Detailed plan of the air-ice-ocean experiment; Appendix B: Acoustics and MIZEX; Appendix C: Biological program; Appendix D: MIZEX organization.