[MITgcm-devel] description of seaice parameters

[Martin Losch]

Hi Dimitry,

I have talked to one of our sea-ice specialists about the default 
parameter values in seaice_readparms.F. There are a few small 
differences in what he uses. The biggest difference is in 
SEAICE_freeze, which is -1.96degC in seaice_readparms.F, but -1.86degC 
in his code. Maybe still another reason for the thin ice around 
Antarctica and the large erroneous polynyas in the high-res cubed 
sphere experiments. Also he uses a smaller value of pstart=1.5e4 
(instead of SEAICE_strength=2.75e4 in seaice_readparms.F). Only FYI.

However, we found that the parameters 
SEAICE_sensHeat/latentWater/latentIce are not really the coefficients 
as described in SEAICE_READPARMS.h but
(density of air)*(heat capacity of air/latent heat of water/latent heat 
of ice)*(transfer coefficient)

At least, that's what we found by comparing the code and default 
values. If you want me to do it I'll change the description in 
SEAICE_READPARAMS.h to reflect this, so that future seaice-novices do 
not stumble over this?

Martin

PS. It is funny that the seaice code and the code that is used at AWI 
are very similar (variable names etc.). It is obvious that both codes 
are derivatives from the same (original Hibler?) code.