Microstructural models and the physical properties of first-year sea ice

A simple microstructural model for first-year sea ice has recently been developed based on the temporal variation in bulk resistivity measured through cross-borehole resistivity tomography (Jones et al., 2010, 2011). The model allows parameterization of the dimensions of brine inclusions as a function of temperature and has the potential to allow the prediction other physical properties of sea ice. It is shown in particular that the model is able to correctly predict the observed variation of the thermal conductivity of first-year sea ice with temperature. It is also successful in predicting the dielectric relaxation recently observed in field measurements of the complex permittivity of sea ice.