Sea state and boundary layer physics of the emerging arctic ocean

The Office of Naval Research initiated a Department Research Initiative (DRI) titled Sea State and Boundary Layer Physics of the Emerging Arctic Ocean. The central hypothesis of the 'Sea State' DRI is that surface waves now have a much greater role in the contemporary Arctic Ocean. Indeed, the entire Arctic Ocean in summer may soon resemble a marginal ice zone (MIZ). The Sea State DRI will use a combination of modeling, in situ observations, and remote sensing to address the following science objectives: 1. Develop a sea state climatology for the Arctic Ocean 2. Improve wave forecasting in the presence of sea ice 3. Improve theory of wave attenuation/scattering in the sea ice cover 4. Apply wave-ice interactions directly in integrated arctic system models 5. Understand heat and mass fluxes in the air-sea-ice syste