Application of discrete element methods to approximate sea-ice dynamics

We present a hybrid approach to modelling sea-ice dynamics that integrates discrete elements to represent small-scale mechanical processes within large-scale simulations. Owing to resolution limitations in current climate models, these processes are typically poorly represented or neglected altogether in large-scale simulations. We extend the viscous–plastic model by introducing collision mechanics in a region of interest to capture elastic behaviour. To ensure a consistent, mass-conserving coupling between the continuum model and the discrete element method, sea-ice tracers are represented using Lagrangian particles. This enables a more accurate description of local dynamics. The hybrid approach allows phenomena such as ice jamming, which are difficult to capture with purely continuum-based models, to be simulated more accurately and at significantly reduced computational cost. It therefore provides an improved approach for understanding sea-ice dynamics and its role in the climate system.