Coupled circulation and ice floe movement model for partially ice‐covered continental shelves

A coupled ice‐ocean model has been developed for use in the short‐term (order of days) prediction of the ice and water movement on the shallow Arctic continental shelf. Our interest in partially ice‐covered conditions allows the neglect of ice‐ice interactions. Thermodynamic effects are also assumed negligible over the short time scale of interest. The intended application to shallow‐water regions permits the use of the vertically integrated water momentum equations but necessitates the inclusion of finite depth effects. Model comparison with actual measurements of ice floe movement in the Beaufort Sea are extremely encouraging, especially when compared with predictions afforded by uncoupled or ice‐only formulations. The use of the depth‐averaged circulation model has been found to weaken the algorithm's ability to simulate ice floe movement in a wind field rapidly varying in time. Recommendations for future improvements include refinement of wind forecasting methods for inclusion in a coupled air‐ice‐ocean model.