COUPLED SEA ICE-OCEAN MODEL OF THE ARCTIC-OCEAN

A fully prognostic coupled ice-ocean model is described. The ice model is based on the elastic-plastic constitutive law with ice mass and co mpactness described by distribution functions. The ice thermodynamics model is applied individually to each ice thickness category. Advectio n of the ice partial mass and concentrations is parameterized by a fou rth-order algorithm that conserves monotonicity of the solution. The o cean is described as a three-dimensional time-dependent baroclinic mod el with free surface. The coupled model is applied to establish the Ar ctic Ocean seasonal climatology using fully prognostic models for ice and ocean. Results reflect the importance of the ice melting/freezing in the formation of the thermohaline structure of the upper ocean laye r.