Assimilation of ice motion observations and comparisons with submarine ice thickness data

Abstract

Aided by submarine observations of ice thickness for model evaluation, we investigate the effects of assimilating buoy motion data and satellite SSM/I (85 Ghz) ice motion data on simulation of Arctic sea ice. The sea‐ice model is a thickness and enthalpy distribution model and is coupled to an ocean model. Ice motion data are assimilated by means of optimal interpolation. Assimilating motion data, particularly from drifting buoys, significantly improves the modeled ice motion, reducing the error to 0.04 m s−1 from 0.07 m s−1 and increasing the correlation with observations to 0.90 from 0.66. Without data assimilation, the modeled ice moves too slowly with excessive stoppage. Assimilation leads to more robust ice motion with substantially reduced stoppage, which in turn leads to strengthened ice outflow at Fram Strait and enhanced ice deformation everywhere. Enhanced deformation doubles the production of ridged ice to an Arctic Ocean average of 0.77 m yr−1, and raises the amount of ridged ice to half the total ice volume per unit area of 2.58 m. Assimilation also significantly alters the spatial distribution of ice mass and brings the modeled ice thickness into better agreement with the thickness observed in four recent submarine cruises, reducing the error to 0.66 m from 0.76 m, and increasing the correlation with observations to 0.65 from 0.45. Buoy data are most effective in reducing model errors because of their small measurement error. SSM/I data, because of their more complete spatial coverage, are helpful in regions with few buoys, particularly in coastal areas. Assimilating both SSM/I and buoy data combines their individual advantages and brings about the best overall model performance in simulating both ice motion and ice thickness.