Mesoscale Modelling of the Arctic Atmospheric Boundary Layer and Its Interaction with Sea Ice

This chapter summarises mesoscale modelling studies, which were carried out during the ACSYS decade until 2005. They were aiming at the parameterisation and improved understanding of processes in the Arctic boundary layer over the open ocean and marginal sea ice zones and over the Greenland ice sheet. It is shown that progress has been achieved with the parameterization of fluxes in strong convective situations such as cold-air outbreaks and convection over leads. A first step was made towards the parameterization of the lead-induced turbulence for high-resolution, but non-eddy resolving models. Progress has also been made with the parameterization of the near-surface atmospheric fluxes of energy and momentum modified by sea ice pressure ridges and by ice floe edges. Other studies brought new insight into the complex processes influencing sea ice transport and atmospheric stability over sea ice. Improved understanding was obtained on the cloud effects on the snow/ice surface temperature and further on the near-surface turbulent fluxes. Finally, open questions are addressed, which remained after the ACSYS decade for future programmes having been started in the years after 2005