Sea-ice growth and decay model of Bohai Sea based on thermodynamic process

In order to preferably simulate the growth and decay of the ice in the Bohai Sea, based on three-dimensional (3-D) Euler-Lagrangian mode with free water surface vertically-stratified dynamic mesh, the 3-D shallow water equation set was discretized applying unstructured finite volume method with Vertex-Centered pattern. Further, the moving process of water current in the Bohai Sea was simulated. In the background of the above mentioned water dynamic field, the effect of detailed thermodynamic process was introduced, then the freezing process of the Bohai Sea in winter was stimulated, and finally the growth and decay model of ice in this sea area was established. The thermodynamic parameters mainly atmospheric temperature, relative humidity, wind field features, solar radiation, sensible heat flux, and latent heat flux coefficients were systematically investigated. Considering the ice-growth process in the Bohai Sea during 2011/2012-normal ice year as an example, the influence of each thermodynamic parameter on the ice condition and multiple parameters sensitivity were analyzed, and finally model was verified. The results showed that sensible heat and latent heat flux coefficients were the most sensitive parameters affecting the ice condition, i. e., the maximum thickness of sea ice decreased by 15 cm after sensible heat and latent heat flux coefficients were reduced only by 0.000 2. Finally, based on the continuously measured hydrodynamic data and the typical disaster process of sea ice happened during the winter of 2009/2010, the model was verified again, which completely illustrated the higher accuracy, stability, and practicality.