At this point in the cruise, many students are devoting their time to group projects. I am currently working with a sizeable group that is using a computer model called WRF to simulate the 2012 Arctic cyclone. I am familiar with the setup process, as well as the ensuing frustration when things don’t go smoothly, because I use a version of WRF in my own research. WRF is an atmospheric model, which simulates the dynamics (motions) of the atmosphere, as well as atmospheric “state” variables such as temperature and humidity. It can be used both for weather forecasting (the “W” and “F” in WRF) and for research (the “R” in WRF). It is similar in many respects to global climate models, yet it is smaller in scope, so a simulation may run for hours or days (instead of decades) and will usually only cover a region of Earth. However, this also enables us to run the model with a higher resolution (meaning smaller grid boxes), so that it may simulate atmospheric phenomena in more detail. I use a slightly different version of the model (WRF-CHEM) in my research. WRF-CHEM couples the effects of aerosols and other gas chemistry to the radiation and cloud physics routines from the standard WRF model. So I can use that to investigate the effects of aerosols on clouds and radiation in the Arctic. As for our group on this expedition, we will use output from the standard version of WRF to run a sea ice model called LIM3, which is used by one of our group members (Antoine) in his own research. Hopefully, we will gain some interesting insights into the effects of different wind and temperature forcings on sea ice during Arctic storms.
Because our project doesn’t involve going outside, it sometimes feels like I’m just working in an office. A quick look out the window reminds me that yes, we’re still on a boat in the Arctic Ocean. But I also feel it is important to spend some time outside. It isn’t always cloudy like it was in the first part of the trip, and the sight of the Sun reflecting off the sea ice is quite memorable.
– Eric Stofferahn
Hello Lindsay, are there any underwater waterfalls in the Arctic Sea like there are in the Mediterranean Sea?
Hi Shannon, I talked with a scientist onboard for you because I was not sure about the answer to your question, and here is what she said: there are a couple of effects that can seem like an underwater waterfall. “Chimneys” are known to happen in the North Atlantic (Labrador Sea), and happens when denser water starts to sink without being influenced by the sea floor or a slope. In the Arctic, these cascading effects can happen when dense water from the Siberian Sea starts to cascade down the slope, but it rarely is so dense that it reaches the ocean floor.
Could you compare measuring glaciers in the Arctic to the studies of Dr.Bower in the Mediterranean measuring temperature,color and height for Physical Oceanographic studies?
Hi Daniel, I only know a little bit about Dr. Amy Bower, but she sounds like a truly amazing person. We have some people onboard the ship who work at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, where Dr. Bower has worked! I admit I don’t know much about the details of her studies, but in general, even though the Arctic and Mediterranean are different ways, like temperature and salinity, oceanographers and other scientists are studying the same kinds of things in both places!
Lindsay what type of problems do you hope don’t occur when your trying to recreate the Arctic cyclone and what do you think will be the most beneficial product of this ?
Hi Daniel, the main benefits to these models are that they would help us better understand the climate and better predict future conditions. The challenges of those models are the details are very complex, and there is a lot of cause and effect – and you have to write a computer code that can take all those things into account!