3a.7 Parallel Climate Model Simulations with a Dynamic-thermodynamic Ice Thickness Distribution Model

Global climate model simulations are influenced by the explicit or parameterized physical processes that they include. Most climate models have some representation of sea ice in the polar regions, which contributes to ice-albedo feedback and a dramatic increase in climate change in the polar regions. Some sea ice components of coupled climate models have been improved in recent years to include ice dynamics and more complex ice thermodynamics, which can, in some cases, highlight deficiencies in other components of the model. Achieving the most realistic representation of ice processes in a climate model requires a balance between the most important processes and their computational costs. The newest generation of the coupled climate model described here includes a significant improvement in the sea ice model component. It has realistic ice dynamics, thermodynamics, thickness distribution, and is run on a high-resolution horizontal grid. It should provide a more accurate representation of ice processes and ice-albedo feedback than previously included in climate models. Results of simulated ice cover from a long-term coupled climate simulation are presented.