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Modelling snow and ice thickness in the coastal Kara Sea, Russian Arctic

Abstract Snow and ice thickness in the coastal Kara Sea, Russian Arctic, were investigated by applying the thermodynamic sea-ice model HIGHTSI. The external forcing was based on two numerical weather prediction (NWP) models: the High Resolution Limited Area Model (HIRLAM) and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) model. A number of model experiments were carried out applying different snow parameterization schemes. The modelled ice thickness was compared with in situ measurements and the modelled snow thickness was compared with the NASA Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for Earth Observing System (AMSR-E) snow thickness. The HIRLAM and ECMWF model results agreed with each other on air temperature and wind. The NWP model precipitation forecasts caught up the synoptic-scale snowfall events, but the magnitude was liable to errors. The ice growth was modelled reasonably well applying HIGHTSI either with a simple parameterization for snow thickness or with the HIRLAM or ECMWF model precipitation as input. For the latter, however, an adjustment of snow accumulation in early winter was necessary to avoid excessive accumulation and consequent underestimation of ice thickness. Applying effective snow heat conductivity improved the modelled ice thickness. The HIGHTSI-modelled snow thickness had a seasonal evolution similar to that of the AMSR-E snow thickness. New field data are urgently needed to validate NWP and ice models and remote-sensing products for snow and sea ice in the Kara Sea.