Prediction of sea ice movement using satellite data

The ice condition in marginal ice zone varies with the wind and current day by day. This paper presents a simulator for use in the short-term (order of several days) prediction of ice condition in marginal ice zone with the use of satellite data. The sea ice data which were obtained from satellite remote sensing with passive microwave sensor SSM/I were used for the initial conditions of simulation. The Distributed Mass/Discrete Floe model was used for rheology computation of ice floes. The form drag on pack ice was newly taken into account. The distribution of ice, ice concentration, and ice thickness are predicted. The ice condition in the Okhotsk Sea were simulated and compared with the observed data from December 1994 to May 1995. The simulated results showed fairly good agreement with the observed data