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A wave-ice interaction model for the marginal ice zone (MIZ) is reported that calculates the attenuation of ocean surface waves by sea ice and the concomitant breaking of the ice into smaller floes by the waves. Physical issues are highlighted that must be considered when ice breakage and wave attenuation are embedded in a numerical wave model or an ice/ocean model.

The theoretical foundations of the model are introduced in this paper, forming the first of a two-part series. The wave spectrum is transported through the ice-covered ocean according to the wave energy balance equation, which includes a term to parameterize the wave dissipation that arises from the presence of the ice cover. The rate of attenuation is calculated using a thin-elastic-plate scattering model and a probabilistic approach is used to derive a breaking criterion in terms of the significant strain. This determines if the local wave field is …