On the statistical properties of sea-ice lead fraction and heat fluxes in the Arctic

Abstract. We explore several statistical properties of the observed and simulated Arctic sea-ice lead fraction, as well statistics ocean–atmosphere heat fluxes. First we show that fraction in Central has a monofractal spatial scaling, which relate to multifractal scaling present deformation rates. then relevant are represented by our model, neXtSIM. Given flux through leads may be up 2 orders magnitude larger than unbroken ice, (probability distribution function – PDF scaling) fluxes demonstrate modelled Arctic, where dominate high-flux tail PDF. This character relates multi- rates fraction. In wider is dominated an exponential decay, attribute presence coastal polynyas. Finally, depends weakly on model resolution discuss role sub-grid-scale parameterisations ice heterogeneity have improving this result.