C23B-0405:
The effects of Antarctic ice-shelf/ocean interactions in a global sea-ice-ocean isopycnal model
Tuesday, 16 December 2014
Olga V Sergienko, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States, Matthew Harrison, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, Princeton, NJ, United States and Robert Hallberg, NOAA GFD Lab-Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States
Abstract:
The representation of ice-shelf/ocean interaction in the global ocean circulation models continues to be challenging. Using a global isopycnal ocean model, MOM6 we investigate the effects of thermodynamic coupling of Antarctic ice shelves on the various aspects of ocean circulation. A high resolution, 1/8 deg, allows to fully resolve circulation in sub-ice-shelf cavities. The computed melting/freezing rates compare favorable with those derived from the ice-shelf surface observations. Our simulations show that the presence of tides plays an important role in the sub-ice-shelf melting. The strong ocean re-circulation near the ice-shelves fronts results in intensive melting there. High melt rates in the vicinity of ice fronts are observed on all ice shelves.
