Multiscale Models of Melting Arctic Sea Ice

Abstract

Sea ice reflectance or albedo, a key parameter in climate modeling, is primarily determined by melt pond and ice floe configurations. Ice-albedo feedback has played a major role in the recent declines of the summer Arctic sea ice pack. However, understanding the evolution of melt ponds and sea ice albedo remains a significant challenge to improving climate models. Our research is focused on obtaining extensive imagery of melt pond evolution, and developing mathematical models of the melting process that can help us better understand the role of sea ice in the climate system, and represent sea ice more rigorously in climate models.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 30, 2013
Accession Number
ADA601522

Entities

People

  • Donald K. Perovich
  • Kenneth M. Golden

Organizations

  • University of Utah

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerial Photographs
  • Climate Change
  • Composite Materials
  • Differential Equations
  • Equations
  • Fluids
  • Ice
  • Materials Science
  • Mathematical Models
  • Mathematics
  • Models
  • Multiscale Models
  • Partial Differential Equations
  • Photographs
  • Physics
  • Sea Ice
  • Water

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
  • Polar and Arctic Studies