SWIIFT v0.10: a numerical model of wave-induced sea ice breakup with an energy criterion

Mokus, Nicolas Guillaume Alexandre; Dansereau, Véronique; Boutin, Guillaume; Auclair, Jean-Pierre; Tlili, Alexandre

doi:10.5194/gmd-19-261-2026

Articles | Volume 19, issue 1

https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-261-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-261-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 19, issue 1

Model description paper

|

08 Jan 2026

Model description paper |

| 08 Jan 2026

SWIIFT v0.10: a numerical model of wave-induced sea ice breakup with an energy criterion

Nicolas Guillaume Alexandre Mokus, Véronique Dansereau, Guillaume Boutin, Jean-Pierre Auclair, and Alexandre Tlili

Data sets

Fracture threshold, stationary waves Nicolas G. A. Mokus https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15230102

Model code and software

SWIIFT Nicolas G. A. Mokus https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15528673

Interactive computing environment

Fracture threshold, stationary waves, ICE Nicolas G. A. Mokus https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15528650

Video supplement

Fracture of a 600-m floe by a polychromatic wave forcing Nicolas G. A. Mokus https://doi.org/10.5446/71776

Short summary

Arctic sea ice recedes, and is thus more exposed to waves, which can fracture continuous pack ice into smaller floes. These are more mobile and easier to melt. Ice fracture itself is not well understood, because of harsh field conditions. We propose a novel criterion parametrising this process, and incorporate it into a numerical model that simulates wave propagation. This criterion can be compared to existing ones. We relate our results to lab experiments, and find qualitative agreement.