Ice-atmosphere interactions in the central Arctic: Remotely-sensed and simulated ice concentration and motion

The response of the Beaufort Sea ice pack to the passage of strong low pressure systems is studied using SAR (synthetic aperture radar), AVHRR (advanced very high resolution radiometer), and SSM/I (special sensor microwave/imager) data combined with model simulations. The SAR, AVHRR, and modeled concentrations concur generally in showing a 1 to 5 percent decrease in ice fraction during the passage of the lows. SSM/I derived concentrations appear to underestimate overall concentration and overestimate the opening of the pack relative to the other data sets. Ice motion derived from SAR and AVHRR and model simulations using two ice rheologies agree reasonably well in direction and magnitude, although the cavitating fluid approximation tends to overestimate ice motion compared to a viscous plastic rheology. Ice motions from SAR, AVHRR, and buoy observations can be merged to yield uniform grids particularly well suited to synoptic scale studies and model validation.