On the validation of wave/ice interactions in the model MFWAM : Analysis with CFOSAT data

Improving wave forecasting in the polar oceans is crucial for coupled earth system and climate monitoring. There is still a strong uncertainties on wave variability in the Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ) and polar oceans. The wave scatterometer SWIM of CFOSAT, provide directional wave spectra, which are very useful to improve the wave forecast in the MIZ and the validation of using wave/ice interactions source term in the MFWAM model. The aim of this work is firstly to assess the impact of using the ice probability products provided by CFOSAT in the MFWAM wave model, and secondly to calibrate and validate the source term for wave attenuation induced by sea ice based on Yue et al (2022) implemented in the MFWAM model. Several MFWAM model simulations have been performed in a global configuration during boreal and austral winter and summer seasons. Different ice probability or fraction forcings provided by the IFS atmospheric system and CFOSAT have been tested in the MFWAM model, while sea ice thickness is provided by the Copernicus Marine Service global ocean reanalysis GLORYS. Significant Wave height (SWH) validation of MFWAM model simulations have been carried out using Sentinel-3 altimetry data, which has good coverage of polar regions. The results show a significant improvement in the bias and scatter index of SWH in Antarctica for Weddell and Ross Seas. The assimilation of SWIM wave spectra enhances the improvement of SWH in the polar oceans, particularly in the Ross Sea, Weddell Sea in Antarctica and Beaufort Sea in the Arctic ocean.

In this work we also analyzed wave attenuation by sea ice. Validation with Sentinel-3 in the Weddell Sea during the boreal summer shows a good performance of the MFWAM model with the wave/ice ineractions term compared with the simulation without interactions. The analysis of wave attenuation by sea ice was carried out in the Arctic in the Sprtizbergen archipelago area, where observations from drifting buoys (Open Met buoys) have been used to validate the MFWAM model performance. The results show good consistency between the MFWAM model and the drifting buoys. Further analysis regarding to the impact of using wave/ice interactions on ocean circulation has been conducted with ocean mixed layer model.

More discussions and conclusions will be summarized in the final presentation.