ACCESS NUMBER: TO-35407 

STUDY TITLE: Sea-Ice-Oilspill Modeling System (SIOMS) for the Nearshore Beaufort and 

Chukchi Seas: Improvement and Parameterization 

REPORT TITLE: Sea Ice-Ocean-Oilspill Modeling Systems (SIOMS) for the Nearshore Beaufort 

and Chukchi Seas: Improvement and Parameterization (Phase II) 

CONTRACT NUMBER: 102CA85294, Task Order (TO) 104TO35407 

 And 198CA30909, Task Order (TO) 15178 

SPONSORING OCS REGION: Alaska 

APPLICABLE PLANNING AREA: Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea, Hope Basin 

FISCAL YEAR(s) OF PROJECT FUNDING: 

TO 15178 2000 

TO 35407 2004, 2005, 2006 

COMPLETION DATE OF REPORT: 2010 

COST: FY 2000 $406,501; FY 2004: $370,811; FY 2005: $97,438, FY 2006: $97,500 

CUMLUATIVE PROJECT COST (TO 15178): $406,501 

CUMULATIVE PROJECT COST (TO 35407): $565,749 

PROJECT MANAGER: Jia Wang 

AFFILIATION: University of Alaska Fairbanks 

ADDRESS: International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 

99775-7340 

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR *: Jia Wang 

KEY WORDS: Arctic Ocean, Beaufort Sea, Circulation, Model, Alaska, SIOMS 

BACKGROUND: This summary describes the modeling efforts conducted through two 

consecutive research projects, development of a Nowcast/Forecast Model for the Beaufort Sea 

Ice-Ocean-Oil Spill System (NFM-BIOS) and its improvements into the Sea Ice-Ocean-Oilspill 

Modeling System (SIOMS), with emphasis on accomplishments during the last three-year funding 

period, May 2004-April 2007. 

 

OBJECTIVES: Implement a finer resolution (1-3 km) stretched-grid coupled ice-ocean-oil model 

in the nearshore Beaufort and Chukchi Seas as part of development of a Nowcast/Forecast 

Model for the Beaufort Sea Ice-Ocean-Oil Spill System (NFM-BIOS). This SIOMS is extended to 

an Arctic and North Atlantic Ocean Model including Bering Strait. Parameterize sea ice thickness 

to represent thin ice, new ice, level ice, lead ice, rafted ice, rubble ice, and ridged iced. 

Parameterize the landfast ice, which can be ridged and anchored, based on existing theory and 

observations. Couple the oilspill model developed in 2000-2003 to SIOMS in the same resolution. 

DESCRIPTION: The following has been accomplished. 1) We developed and implemented a 

SIOMS that consists of a 3.8-km, 3-D CIOM (Coupled Ice-Ocean Model) and a 2-D iceassociated oilspill model. 2) We improved the CIOM by implementing tides and its mixing, and 

parameterizations for lateral melting and wind-wave mechanical mixing. 3) The CIOM was 

validated using both in situ observations and satellite measurements. 4) Model integrations were 

conducted using both monthly atmospheric forcing for seasonal climatology and daily forcing for 

*P.I.’s affiliation may be different than that listed for Project Manager(s). 
ACCESS NUMBER: TO-35407 

year-to-year variability from 1990 to 2006. 5) We conducted simulations of oilspill trajectories 

released on Prudhoe Bay landfast ice region on March 15, 2002. 6) Sensitivity experiments were 

conducted with regard to the impacts of the Bering Strait inflow, onshore wind stress, lateral 

melting parameterization, and tides on the sea ice and coastal ocean current, in particular on the 

landfast ice, in the nearshore Chukchi and Beaufort seas. 

SIGNIFICANT CONCLUSIONS: The 3.8-km CIOM successfully reproduces many observed 

phenomena in the region, including the Bering-inflow-originated coastal current that splits into 

three branches: Alaska Coastal Water (ACW), Central Channel, and Herald Valley branches. 

Other phenomena include the Beaufort Slope Current (BSC), the Beaufort Gyre, the East 

Siberian Current (ESC), mesoscale eddies, seasonal landfast ice, sea ice ridging, shear, and 

deformation. Many of these downscaling processes can only be captured by using a highresolution CIOM, nested in a global climate model. 

STUDY RESULTS: The seasonal cycles for sea ice concentration, thickness, velocity, and other 

variables are well reproduced with solid validation by satellite measurements. The seasonal 

cycles for upper ocean dynamics and thermodynamics are also well reproduced, which include 

the formation of the cold saline layer due to the injection of salt during sea ice formation, the BSC, 

and the subsurface upwelling in winter that brings up warm, even more saline Atlantic Water 

along the shelfbreak and shelf along the Beaufort coast. The CIOM also reproduces reasonable 

interannual variability in sea ice, such as producing anomalous open water (less sea ice) during 

the positive Dipole Anomaly (DA) years, vice versa during the negative DA years. The year-toyear variability in ocean circulation and thermodynamics can be also fairly reproduced. 

Sensitivity studies show the CIOM responds reasonably well to the change in important 

parameters (such as lateral melting, albedo, etc) and processes (nonlinear terms, tides, wind 

forcing, Bering inflow, or boundary conditions). Furthermore, the experiments show that landfast 

ice and the coastal current system are determined by wind, lateral melting, the Bering inflow, and 

other parameters as well. 

 

It was learned that a 3.8-km mesh might be the limit for the isotropic sea ice model with viscousplastic rheology. An algorithm solution to sea ice dynamics (such as explicit scheme) with EVP 

(elastic-viscous-plastic) and a better model representation of anisotropic property of sea ice 

should be explored to advance high resolution sea ice modeling. 

STUDY PRODUCTS (TO35407 and TO15178): 

MMS Reports: 

Wang, J.; Mizobata, K.; Jin, M.; Hu, H. 2010. Sea Ice-Ocean-Oilspill Modeling System (SIOMS) 

for the Nearshore Beaufort and Chukchi Seas: Parameterization and Improvement 

(Phase II). Final Report OCS Study MMS 2008-021. Coastal Marine Institute, University 

of Alaska Fairbanks and Minerals Management Service, Alaska OCS Region. Fairbanks, 

AK. 

Wang, J, 2003. Proceedings of a Workshop on Small-Scale Sea-Ice and Ocean Modeling (SIOM) 

in the Nearshore Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. Final Report, Coastal Marine Institute, 

University of Alaska, OCS Study MMS 2003-043, 56pp. (TO35407) 

Wang, J, 2005. Proceedings of a Workshop on Hydrological Modeling of Freshwater Discharge 

from Alaska’s Arctic Coast. Final Report, Coastal Marine Institute, University of Alaska, 

OCS Study MMS 2006-043, 68pp. (TO15178) 

Wang, J., and M. Jin. 2000. "A Nowcast/Forecast Model for the Beaufort Sea Ice-Ocean-Oil Spill 

System (NFM-BIOS) [Abstract]." Annual Report No. 7, University of Alaska Coastal 

Marine Institute. OCS Study MMS 2000-070. University of Alaska, Coastal Marine 

Institute and USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region, Fairbanks, AK. (TO15178) 

Wang, J., and M. Jin. 2004. "A Nowcast/Forecast Model for the Beaufort Sea Ice-Ocean-Oil Spill 

System (NFM-BIOS)." Annual Report No.10, University of Alaska Coastal Marine Institute. 
ACCESS NUMBER: TO-35407 

OCS Study MMS 2004-002. University of Alaska, Coastal Marine Institute and USDOI, 

MMS, Alaska OCS Region, Fairbanks, AK. (TO15178) 

Wang, J., and M. Jin. 2005. "A Nowcast/Forecast Model for the Beaufort Sea Ice-Ocean-Oil Spill 

System (NFM-BIOS) [Abstract}." Annual Report No.11, University of Alaska Coastal 

Marine Institute . OCS Study MMS 2005-055. University of Alaska, Coastal Marine 

Institute and USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region, Fairbanks, AK. (TO15178) 

Wang, J., and M. Jin. 2005. "Sea-Ice-Ocean-Oil-Spill Modeling System (SIOMS) for the 

Nearshore Beaufort and Chukchi Sea: Improvement and Parameterization (Phase II) 

[abstract]." Annual Report No.11, University of Alaska Coastal Marine Institute. OCS 

Study MMS 2005-055. University of Alaska, Coastal Marine Institute and USDOI, MMS, 

Alaska OCS Region, Fairbanks, AK. (TO35407) 

Wang, J., M. Jin, M. Ikeda, K. Shimada, and J. Takahashi. 2003. "A Nowcast/Forecast Model for 

the Beaufort Sea Ice-Ocean-Oil Spill System (NFM-BIOS) ." Annual Report No. 9, 

University of Alaska Coastal Marine Institute. OCS Study MMS 2003-003. University of 

Alaska, Coastal Marine Institute and USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region, Fairbanks, AK. 

(TO15178) 

Wang, J., K. Mizobata, M. Jin, and H. Hu. 2008. "Sea Ice-Ocean-Oilspill Modeling System 

(SIOMS) for the Nearshore Beaufort and Chukchi Seas: Parameterization and 

Improvment (Phase II)." Coastal Marine Institute University of Alaska Annual Report No. 

14 , Director M. Castellini. OCS Study MMS 2008-014. Department of the Interior, MMS, 

Alaska OCS Region and Coastal Marine Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 

Fairbanks, AK. (TO35407) 

Wang, J., Q. Liu, and M. Jin. 2002. "A Nowcast/Forecast Model for the Beaufort Sea Ice-OceanOil Spill System (NFM-BIOS)." Annual Report No. 8, University of Alaska Coastal Marine 

Institute. OCS Study MMS 2002-001. University of Alaska, Coastal Marine Institute and 

USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region, Fairbanks, AK. (TO15178) 

Publications: 

Mizobata, K., J. Wang, H. Hu, and D. Wang. 2010. Low primary productivity in the Chukchi Sea 

controlled by warm Pacific water: A data-model fusion study. In Remote Sensing of the 

Changing Ocean, eds. D. Tang et al., Higher Education Press and Springer (In press). 

(TO15178) 

Hu, H. and J. Wang, 2010. Modeling effects of tidal and wave mixing on circulation and 

thermohaline structures in the Bering Sea: Process studies, J. Geophys. Res., 115, 

C01006, doi:10.1029/2008JC005175. (TO15178) 

Wang, J., J. Zhang, E. Watanabe, K. Mizobata, M. Ikeda, J.E. Walsh, X. Bai, and B. Wu. 2009. Is 

the Dipole Anomaly a major driver to record lows in the Arctic sea ice extent? Geophys 

Res. Lett, 36, L05706, doi:10.1029/2008GL036706. (TO15178) 

Wang, J., H. Hu, K. Mizobata, and S. Saitoh. 2009. Seasonal variations of sea ice and ocean 

circulation in the Bering Sea: A model-data fusion study. J. Geophys. Res. 114, C02011, 

doi:10.1029/2008JC004727. (TO15178) 

Hu, H. and J. Wang, 2008. Modeling the ocean circulation in the Bering Sea, Chinese Journal of 

Polar Science, 19(2), 192. (TO15178) 

Wang, J. K. Mizobata, H. Hu, M. Jin, S. Zhang, W. Johnson, and K. Shimada. 2008. Modeling 

Seasonal Variations of Ocean and Sea Ice Circulation in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas: 

A model-data fusion study. Chinese Journal of Polar Science, 19(2), 168- 184. (TO15178) 

Jin, M., J. Wang, K. Mizobata, H. Hu, and K. Shimada. 2008. Observations and modeling of the 

ice-ocean conditions in the coastal Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. Acta Oceanologica 

Sinica, 27(3), 79-87. (TO15178) 

Watanabe, E., J. Wang, T. Sumi, and H. Hasumi. 2006. Arctic Dipole and its contribution to sea 

ice exports in the 20th century. Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L23703, 

doi:10.1029/2006GL028112. (TO15178) 

Wu, B., J. Wang, J.E. Walsh. 2006. Dipole anomaly in the winter Arctic atmosphere and its 

association with Arctic sea ice motion. J. Climate, 19(2), 210-225. DOI: 

10.1175/JCLI3619.1 (TO15178) 
ACCESS NUMBER: TO-35407 

Wang, J., Q. Liu, M. Jin, M. Ikeda and F.J. Saucier, 2005. A coupled ice-ocean model in the panArctic and the northern North Atlantic Ocean: Simulation of seasonal cycles. J. Oceanogr., 

61, 213-233. (TO15178) 

Wang, J., B. Wu, C. Tang, J.E. Walsh and M. Ikeda, 2004. Seesaw structure of subsurface 

temperature anomalies between the Barents Sea and the Labrador Sea. Geophys. Res. 

Lett., 31, L19301, doi: 10.1029/2004GL019981. (TO15178) 

Wang, J., R. Kwok, F.J. Saucier, J. Hutchings, M. Ikeda, W. Hibler III, J. Haapala, M.D. Coon, 

H.E.M. Meier, H. Eicken, N. Tanaka, R. Prentki, and W. Johnson, 2003. Working towards 

improved small-scale sea ice and ocean modeling in the Arctic seas. EOS, AGU, Vol . 84 

(34), 325, 329-330. (TO35407) 

Internal Reports: 

Wang, J., Q. Liu and M. Jin, 2002. A User’s Guide for a Coupled Ice-Ocean Model (CIOM) in the 

Pan-Arctic and North Atlantic Oceans. International Arctic Research Center-Frontier 

Research System for Global Change, Tech. Rep. 02-01, 65 pp. (TO35407) 

Presentations: 

2002: 

Invited: 

Simulating the seasonal cycle using a coupled ice-ocean model in the pan Arctic-North Atlantic 

Ocean. AOMIP (Arctic Ocean Models Intercomparison Project) Workshop. Washington, 

DC, May 30. 

Modeling shelf-basin interactions in the Arctic Ocean (key note speaker), Workshop on Arctic 

Circulation modeling and measurement, Lamont-Doberty Earth Observatory, Columbia 

Univ., June 17-20. 

Oral: 

A nested coupled ice-ocean model in the Beaufort Sea. Coastal Marine Institute Workshop on 

Beaufort Sea. Fairbanks, January 15, 2002. 

A coupled ice-ocean model in the pan Arctic-North Atlantic Ocean. Canadian Meteorological and 

Oceanographic Society, Rimouski, Quebec, May 14-18. 

A nested coupled ice-ocean model in the Beaufort Sea. Workshop on Small-Scale Sea Ice and 

Ocean Modeling, IARC/Fairbanks, August 7-9, 2002. 

A coupled ice-ocean model in the pan Arctic-North Atlantic Ocean. Workshop on Small-Scale Sea 

Ice and Ocean Modeling, IARC/Fairbanks, August 7-9, 2002. 

A nested coupled ice-ocean model in the Beaufort Sea. IARC-FRSGC and UAF Workshop on 

Point Barrow Sea Ice Resear5ch. IARC/Fairbanks, October 28, 2002. 

2003: 

Invited: 

Wang, J., Small-scale ice-ocean modelling for the nearshore Beaufort and Chukchi seas. MMS 

Physical Oceanography Workshop, Fairbanks, Feb 4-6, 2003. 

Oral: 

Wang, J., M. Ikeda, and F. Saucier, A coupled ice-ocean model in the pan Arctic-North Atlantic 

Ocean: Simulations of seasonal cycles. AMS 7th Conference on Polar Meteorology and 

Oceanography. Hyannis, MA, May 12-16, 2003. 

Jin, M. and J. Wang, Shelf dense water transport in the Beaufort Sea. AMS 7th Conference on 

Polar Meteorology and Oceanography. Hyannis, MA, May 12-16, 2003. 

2004: 

Invited: 

Wang, J., A coupled ice-ocean-oilspill modelling system in the Beaufort Sea. MMS Headquarters, 

Herndon, VA, March 3, 2004. 

Oral: 

Wang, J. and M. Jin. An ice-ocean-oilspill modelling system in the Beaufort Sea. CMI/MMS 

Annual Meeting, Feb. 17, Fairbanks, AK. 

Dipole Anomaly and Arctic sea ice. The Second International Symposium on Polar Sciences of 

China. October 15-17, 2004, Beijing 

Poster: 
ACCESS NUMBER: TO-35407 

Wang, B. Wu, and M. Jin. A coupled ice-ocean model (CIOM) in the pan Arctic and northern 

North Atlantic Ocean: Simulation of seasonal cycle. Marine Science in Alaska 2004 

Symposium, Jan. 12-14, Anchorage, AK. 

2005: 

Invited: 

Modeling 3-D environmental hydrodynamic fields of the Bering Sea. Workshop on the Bering Sea 

Ocean Circulation Modelling, Feb. 3-4, PMEL/NOAA, Seattle. 

Oral: 

Modeling 3-D environmental hydrodynamic fields of the Bering Sea. Marine Science Meeting in 

Alaska, Jan. 24-26, Anchorage 

Hydrological modelling in the North Slope. CMI/MMS Annual Review Meeting, March 8. 

Fairbanks. 

A coupled ice-ocean-oilspill modelling system (SIOMS) in the Chukchi-Beaufort Seas. MMS 

Transfer Meeting, Anchorage, March 14-16, 2005. 

The Arctic winter atmospheric Dipole Anomaly (DA) and sea ice motion: Data analysis and 

modeling. International Symposium on Sea Ice, Dec. 5-9, Dunedin, New Zealand. 

Poster: 

The Arctic dipole anomaly and sea ice motion. Jan. 9-14, AMS Meeting, San Diego. 

2006: 

Invited: 

Sea ice-ocean-oil spill modeling system (SIOMS) for the nearshore Beaufort and Chukchi Seas: 

improvement and parameterization (Phase II). Feb 14, CMI/MMS Annual Research 

Review Meeting, Fairbanks, Alaska. 

Sea Ice-Ocean-oilspill Modeling System (SIOMS) for the nearshore Beaufort and Chukchi Seas: 

Improvement and parameterization (Phase II). May 24, MMS Modeling Review Board 

Meeting, MMS Headquarters, Herndon, Virginia. (oral) 

Simulating downscaling ice-ocean characteristics in the Beaufort-Chukchi seas using an IARC 

Coupled Ice-Ocean Model (CIOM). GLERL, NOAA, Ann Arbor, Oct. 30. 

Oral: 

Wang, J. and H. Hu, 2006: Downscaling ice-ocean characteristics in the Beaufort-Chukchi seas 

simulated by an IARC Coupled Ice-Ocean Model (CIOM). Jan 22-25, Marine Science 

Symposium, Anchorage. 

Hu, H. and J. Wang, 2006: Modeling the Bering Sea Thermodynamic Characteristics Using an 

IARC Coupled Ice-Ocean Model (CIOM). Jan 22-25, Marine Science Symposium, 

Anchorage. 

Mizobata, K. and J. Wang, 2006: Summer chlorophyll distributions related to the runoff-ocean-ice 

interaction in the Beaufort/Chukchi Sea. Jan 22-25, Marine Science Symposium, 

Anchorage. 

Poster: 

Hu, H. and J. Wang, 2006: Modeling the Bering Sea Thermodynamic Characteristics Using an 

IARC Coupled Ice-Ocean Model (CIOM). Ocean Science Meeting, Feb. 20-24, Honolulu. 

Mizobata, K. and J. Wang, 2006: Summer chlorophyll distributions related to the runoff-ocean-ice 

interaction in the Beaufort/Chukchi Sea. Ocean Science Meeting, Feb. 20-24, Honolulu. 

Zhang, S. and J. Wang, 2006: Coupling the CICE3.1 to ROMS. Ocean Science Meeting,Feb. 20-

24, Honolulu. 

Wang, J. and H. Hu, 2006: Downscaling ice-ocean characteristics in the Beaufort-Chukchi seas 

simulated by an IARC Coupled Ice-Ocean Model (CIOM). Ocean Science Meeting, Feb. 

20-24, Honolulu. 

Wang, J., H. Hu, K. Mizobata, M. Jin, 2006: Downscaling ice-ocean characteristics in the 

Beaufort-Chukchi seas simulated by an IARC Coupled Ice-Ocean Model (CIOM). ARCUS 

18th Annual Arctic Forum, Washington D.C., May 25-26. 

2007: 

Invited: 

Sea ice-ocean-oil spill modeling system (SIOMS) for the nearshore Beaufort and Chukchi Seas: 

improvement and parameterization (Phase II). Feb 6, CMI/MMS Annual Research 

Review Meeting, Fairbanks, Alaska. 
ACCESS NUMBER: TO-35407 

Wang, J. Model-data fusion studies in the Beaufort-Chukchi seas. Pacific Arctic (Country) Group 

(PAG) Model-Data Fusion Workshop, Ottawa, October, 2007. 

Wang, J. Model-data fusion studies in the Beaufort-Chukchi seas. US-China Arctic IPY Cruise 

Planning, D.C., October, 2007 

Oral: 

Modeling Ocean Circulation in the North Aleutian Basin. Sep 8, MMS Headquarters, Herndon, VA. 

Modeling sea ice-ocean-oil spill system (SIOMS) for the nearshore Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, 

IAGLR, College City, Penn State, May 2007. 

Poster: 

Wang, J. H. Hu, and K. Mizobata. Downscaling ice-ocean characteristics in the Beaufort-Chukchi 

seas simulated by an IARC Coupled Ice-Ocean Model (CIOM). AYK-SSI Science 

Meeting, Feb 6-8, Anchorage. 

2008: 

Invited: 

Wang, J. Model-data fusion study in the Bering Sea using CIOM. Pacific Arctic (Country) Group 

(PAG) Model-Data Fusion Workshop, Sanya, China, Feb. 18-20, 2008. 

Wang, J. 2008. Modeling sea ice and ocean circulation in the Bering Sea, Hokkaido University 

T/S Oshoro-Maru, July 16, Alaska 

Wang, J. 2008. Dipole Anomaly drove the 2007 Arctic sea ice minimum, Dutch Harbor Museum, 

Alaska (outreach to local community), July 17. 

Wang, J. Arctic Dipole Anomaly drove the 2007 Arctic sea ice minimum: Implication to 

ecosystems in the North Atlantic, NW Atlantic GLOBEC Workshop, New Hampshire,Oct 

2008 

Oral: 

Wang, J., K. Mizobata, and H. Hu. Development of the Beaufort-Chukchi seas Coupled IceOcean Model (CIOM). 2008 Alaska Marine Symposium, Jan. 20-24, Anchorage. 

Hu, H and Wang, J. Modeling the Bering Sea ice and ocean circulation. The 2008 Ocean 

Science Meetings, Orlando, FL, March 2-5. 

Mizobata, K. and J. Wang. Modeling Beaufort and Chukchi seas ice and ocean circulation. Pacific 

Arctic (Country) Group (PAG) Model-Data Fusion Workshop, Sanya, China, Feb.18-20, 

2008. 

Wang, J. 2008. Dipole Anomaly drove the 2007 Arctic sea ice minimum, International Symposium 

on Arctic Research, Tokyo, Japan, Nov. 4-6, 2008. 

Poster: 

Hu, H and Wang, J. Modeling the Bering Sea circulation and the cold pool. 2008 Alaska Marine 

Symposium, Jan. 20-24, Anchorage. 

Mizobata, K., J. Wang, and H. Hu. Sensitivity study of the Beaufort-Chukchi seas ice-ocean 

circulation. 2008 Alaska Marine Symposium, Jan. 20-24, Anchorage. 

Wang, J. and J. Zhang, 2008. Dipole Anomaly drove the 2007 Arctic sea ice minimum, ARCUS 

2008 Annual Meeting, May 14-15, D.C. 

Other products: 

Provide MMS with SIOM-simulated fields of ice velocity, concentration, thickness, ocean surface 

current, SST, and wind forcing for oil-spill simulation (2006-2007) for the period 1990-2006. 

(TO15178) 

Example of model-simulated 

upmost 50-m averaged ocean 

velocity showing model area of 

interest for this study for July 10 

under climatological forcing, 

compared with the schematic 

ocean circulation