Effect of ocean surface waves on sea ice using coupled wave–ice–ocean modelling

Abstract

The reduction of ice content in the context of climate change in polar oceans has sparked strong scientific interest in wave–ice interactions. To study the wave effect on sea ice in the marginal ice zone (MIZ), wave model WW3 and ocean–ice model MOM6-SIS2 are fully coupled by implementing schemes to account for non-breaking wave-induced turbulence and wave stress on ice. Improved estimations of ocean mixed layer depth and sea ice extent are achieved by incorporating the parameterizations of wave effects. The results also show that wave-induced turbulence enhances upper ocean mixing and significantly impedes ice growth with warmed sea surface in winter. Conversely, the sea surface is cooled in summer and the sea ice melt is slowed down. The wave stress on ice is predominantly directed towards the ice field and is comparable in magnitude to the wind stress. The sea ice extent is increased due to the wave stress.