PREDICTION OF ARCTIC ICE CONDITIONS FOR OPERATIONS

A mathematical model is presented as an aid to forecasting of ice conditions for operations in ice-infested waters. The sea ice model interacts with the atmosphere and ocean. The importance of knowledge of ice velocity, thickness distribution, and stress for short-term forecasting of ice conditions is explained. A sample calculation is shown to demonstrate and clarify the results. As a test of the performance of the model, observations during the Arctic Ice Dynamics Joint Experiment (AIDJEX) and Landsat imagery in April 1975 are used to compare with simulated conditions. The response of the model to these conditions is qualitatively reasonable, but insufficient data on barometric pressures and boundary motion affects the comparison. The model is too weak to match the observed motions as accurately as desired. Efforts to eliminate these problems should allow the model to be used as an operational tool to aid in short-term forecasting of sea ice conditions.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Paper presented at the 9th Annual OTC in Houston, Texas, May 2-5 1977.
• Corporate Authors:

  Offshore Technology Conference

  6200 North Central Expressway
  Dallas, TX  United States  45206
• Authors:
  • Coon, M D
  • Pritchard, R S
• Publication Date: 1977

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 307-314
• Serial:
  • Publication of: Offshore Technology Conference
  • Publisher: Offshore Technology Conference

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Forecasting; Ice; Measurement; Thickness; Weather forecasting
• Candidate Terms: Ice forecasting
• Geographic Terms: Arctic Regions
• Old TRIS Terms: Ice models; Ice thickness measurement
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Planning and Forecasting;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00158036
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Offshore Technology Conference
• Report/Paper Numbers: V4, OTC 3004 Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 31 1977 12:00AM