A Comparison of Two Sea Ice Trajectory Models With AIDJEX Observations

Two mathematical models (free drift and complete ice dynamics) that simulate sea ice motions driven by winds and currents are described. Accurate wind and current observations and motion data obtained from data buoys and camps located in the Beaufort Sea during the AIDJEX main field experiment 1975–76 are used as input to these two models for evaluating model performance. Comparison of modeled and observed ice displacements shows that the free-drift model accurately predicts ice motions in the summer only whereas the complete ice dynamics model simulates year-round ice motions with a good degree of accuracy.