Inter-annual sea-ice variability north of 55°N in eastern Canada was
explored with a box model incorporating annually invariant, bathymetrically
dependent ocean heat fluxes and near-surface currents. Using inputs of ice
concentrations, regional surface temperatures and geostrophic winds at
external model boundaries, ice composition was simulated in seven thickness
categories at 10 day intervals during three annual ice seasons. Comparisons
indicated good reproduction of observed inter-annual differences in regional
ice volumes during critical January-March periods. Additional simulations of
artificial cutoffs in southward ice fluxes showed that advective influence
decreases with latitude and dominates the development of spring ice
conditions in areas south of 60°N.