Jeff K. Ridley1,Edward W. Blockley1,Ann B. Keen1,Jamie G. L. Rae1,Alex E. West1,and David Schroeder2Jeff K. Ridley et al. Jeff K. Ridley1,Edward W. Blockley1,Ann B. Keen1,Jamie G. L. Rae1,Alex E. West1,and David Schroeder2
1Met Office, Exeter, EX1 3PB, UK
2Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6BB, UK
1Met Office, Exeter, EX1 3PB, UK
2Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6BB, UK
Correspondence: Jeff K. Ridley (jeff.ridley@metoffice.gov.uk)
Received: 25 Aug 2017 – Discussion started: 11 Sep 2017 – Revised: 17 Jan 2018 – Accepted: 23 Jan 2018 – Published: 27 Feb 2018
Abstract. A new sea ice configuration, GSI8.1, is implemented in the Met Office global coupled configuration HadGEM3-GC3.1 which will be used for all CMIP6 (Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6) simulations. The inclusion of multi-layer thermodynamics has required a semi-implicit coupling scheme between atmosphere and sea ice to ensure the stability of the solver. Here we describe the sea ice model component and show that the Arctic thickness and extent compare well with observationally based data.
The sea ice component of the Met Office coupled climate model, HadGEM3-GC3.1, is presented and evaluated. We determine that the mean state of the sea ice is well reproduced for the Arctic; however, a warm sea surface temperature bias over the Southern Ocean results in a low Antarctic sea ice cover.
The sea ice component of the Met Office coupled climate model, HadGEM3-GC3.1, is presented and...