The number of ice thickness categories affects ice model input files in three places:
The number of ice thickness categories is set in $CASE/Buildconf/cice.buildexe.csh using the variable called $NCAT. The default value is 5 categories. $NCAT is used to determine the CPP variable setting (NCAT) in ice_model_size.F90. $RES is the resolution of the grid, 100x116 (gx3v7) and 320x384 (gx1v6) for low and medium resolution grids, respectively.
kitd = 0 kstrength = 0
With these settings, the model will use the delta scheme instead of linear remapping and a strength parameterization based on open water area and mean ice thickness.
The information in the initial restart file is dependent on the number of ice thickness categories and the total number of layers in the ice distribution. An initial condition file exists only for the default case of 5 ice thickness categories, with four layers in each category. To create an initial condition file for a different number of categories or layers, these steps should be followed:
Note that the date printed inside the binary restart file will not be the same as 0001-01-01. For coupled runs, $BASEDATE will be the starting o date and the date inside the file will not be used.