Due to large uncertainties in many of the parameters used to model sea ice,
it is possible that models with significantly different physical processes
can be tuned to obtain realistic present-day simulations. However, in
studies of climate change, it is the response of the model it various
perturbations that is important, in studies response can be significantly
different in sea-ice models that include or exclude various physical
feedback mechanisms. Because simplifications in sea-ice physics are
necessary for general circulation model experiments, it is important to
assess which physical processes are essential for the accurate determination
of the sensitivity of the ice pack to climate perturbations. We have
attempted to address these issues using a new coupled ice-thickness
distribution ocean mixed-layer model. The sensitivity of the model to
surface heat-flux perturbations is examined and the importance of the ice
ocean and ice-albedo feedback mechanisms in determining this sensitivity is
analyzed. We find that the ice ocean and ice-albedo feedback processes are
not mutually exclusive, and that they both significantly alter the model
response to surface heat flux perturbations.