The use of remote sensing in addressing scaling issues for numerical models of atmospheric processes

The problems of thermal forcing during cyclogenesis in the Arctic Polar Basin and numerical modelling are discussed. For the past three years, the authors have been taking detailed surface radiation and energy balance measurements over the sea ice in the Canadian Arctic to more fully understand the process linkages and feedbacks between the atmosphere dynamics and surface processes. The link between the mesoscale models and micro-scale in situ observations is remote sensing. The authors have been exploring a variety of techniques to scale up from detailed micrometeorological measurements to the quasi-geostrophic models through aggregation of data based upon remote sensing information. In this paper the authors review the problems of scaling from observations to models through discussion of the results of the authors' modelling efforts at the synoptic scale and their high resolution observations at the ice surface as part of the SIMMS Programme (Seasonal Sea Ice Monitoring and Modelling Site) in Lancaster Sound. By use of an example, the authors illustrate how microwave scatter can be used to infer the climatological albedo, thereby demonstrating the role which remote sensing can play in bridging the scale gap. The authors outline their research plans over the next five years for addressing other terms of the surface interaction with the atmosphere.< >