Effect of wave-induced mixing on Antarctic sea ice in a high-resolution ocean model

Abstract

In this study, we investigate how sea ice extent and thickness are affected by additional turbulent mixing from unbroken surface waves. This ‘surface wave mixing’ (SWM) is parameterized by the inclusion of an extra mixing term in the k-e turbulence scheme implemented in a global-scale ocean model (MOM5). Relative to simulations without SWM, we observe a reduction of seasonal extremes of sea ice extent in the Antarctic of about 9%. This reduction brings the seasonal amplitude of sea ice extent significantly closer to observations, as well as causing an increase in sea ice thickness of up to 15 cm leading up to and during the Antarctic summer.