Polar Bear in Ice

Predicting Arctic Sea-Ice?

 Sea Ice Laurier06
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To predict Arctic Sea-Ice we use a large computer to run a model of the real world.
The model uses our understanding of the science (physics) of how ice and ocean behave on the Earth.
Jinlun and computer array


This is the computer we use to run the model ..
.. and the person who tells the computer (and model) what to do.
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We give the Arctic model wind and air temperature information from weather forecasting models, and it computes how the ocean and the sea-ice react.
 
This picture shows the thickness of sea-ice in the Arctic Ocean according to the model.

image to start movie

Click on the image to run the model from 1979 to 2004.