Advancements in sea ice dynamics modeling based on a mixed least‐squares finite element study with nonconforming stress approximation

Abstract The seasonal growth and decay of the (Antarctic) sea ice has great impact on the local as well as the world's climate. Thus, the numerical analysis to forecast the sea ice dynamics with all its impact factors and the mutual influence on the climate is of great interest. This contribution studies the application of the least‐squares finite element method (FEM) to the coupled problem considering the ocean velocity, the stresses, the sea ice concentration, and the sea ice thickness. By using conforming and nonconforming approximation spaces for the stresses, their advantages and disadvantages are shown and discussed.