Winds and Ice Motion in Nares Strait and Smith Sound From a Regional Mesoscale Model and Satellite Observations

Flow of sea-ice through the Canadian Archipelago is a potentially important element of Arctic-Subarctic flux balances that is not well quantified observationally and not well represented in current circulation models. As part of an ongoing observational program, concurrent estimates of wind forcing from a multiply-nested mesoscale model and ice motion from AMSR/E satellite data have been made in the Nares Strait and Smith Sound channels west of Greenland. Preliminary results from the meteorological modeling and satellite image analysis provide circumstantial support for the accuracy of the model wind fields and suggestive indications of wind-forcing of ice motion through Nares Strait. Daily forecast simulations during August 2003 through July 2004 are used to estimate the monthly mean wind fields in the Strait and to examine the characteristics and evolution of specific events. Seasonal variations of monthly mean model surface wind fields are consistent with anticipated large-scale circulation patterns around Greenland, with southerly flow in summer and northerly flow in winter. Winds within Nares Strait are topographically controlled and largely channeled through the Strait. Winter winds are stronger and aligned more closely with the channel, while summer winds show outflows from Greenland that extend across the channel to Ellesmere Island. During the winter, the sea-ice moves through this region almost continually and sea ice floes can move at over 60 km per day. An apparently wind-driven flow reversal occurred in early February 2004.