Evolution of the thickness distribution of ice in the sea of Japan

Simple mathematical models of the thermodynamics of the ice-cover thickness and the thermodynamics of the area of an individual ice floe are proposed. The equations of the models allow for an explicit consideration of the spatial boundedness of the seawater region containing ice covers. A kinetic model of the evolution of the distributions of ice area and ice thickness is formulated on the basis of the gas-dynamic theory. Integration of the equations of this model over the surface areas of individual floes gives the thickness distribution of ice areas. Several special cases are studied analytically. The adequacy of the models is assessed. The results of simulations are presented.