Wave modeling for the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas

William Rogers, US Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, United States, Jim Thomson, Applied Physics Laboratory University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Hayley H Shen, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, United States, Pamela G Posey, Naval Research Laboratory, Stennis Space Center, MS, United States and David A Hebert, Navl Research Lab, Stennis Space Center, MS, United States
Abstract:
Authors: W. Erick Rogers(1), Jim Thomson(2), Hayley Shen (3), Pamela
Posey (1), David Hebert (1)

1 Naval Research Laboratory, Stennis Space Center, Mississippi, USA
2 Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle,
Washington, USA
3 Clarkson University, Potsdam, New York, USA

Abstract :

In this presentation, we will discuss the development and application of numerical models for prediction of wind-generated surface gravity waves to the Arctic Ocean, and specifically the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, for which the Office of Naval Research (ONR) has supported two major field campaigns in 2014 and 2015. The modeling platform is the spectral wave model WAVEWATCH III (R) (WW3). We will begin by reviewing progress with the model numerics in 2007 and 2008 which permits efficient application at high latitudes. Then, we will discuss more recent progress (2012 to 2015) adding new physics to WW3 for ice effects. The latter include two parameterizations for dissipation by turbulence at the ice/water interface, and a more complex parameterization which treat the ice as a viscoelastic fluid. With these new physics, the primary challenge is to find observational data suitable for calibration of the parameterization, and there are concerns about validity of application of any calibration to the wide variety of ice types that exist in the Arctic (or Southern Ocean). Quality of input is another major challenge, for which some recent progress has been made (at least in the context of ice concentration and ice edge) with data assimilative ice modeling at NRL. We will discuss our recent work to invert for dissipation rate using data from a 2012 mooring in the Beaufort Sea, how the results vary by season (ice retreat vs. advance), and what this tells us in context of those complex physical parameterizations used by the model. We will summarize plans for further development of the model, such as adding scattering by floes, through collaboration with IFREMER (France), and improving on the simple "proportional scaling" treatment of the open water source functions in presence of partial ice cover. Finally, we will discuss lessons learned for wave modeling from the autumn 2015 R/V Sikuliaq cruise supported by ONR.

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