COMPUTER SIMULATION OF ICEBERG DRIFT

Drifting icebergs pose a serious problem of offshore operations on Canadian Eastern Continental Shelf. Recent declaration of 200-mile economic zone has raised the possibility of both an increase in intensity, as well as an extension of the exploration operations in the entire zone. This necessitates an evaluation of the data-collection effort on a continued basis. A computer model will be useful if it can effectively analyze the entire data collected over a long period and generate an output from which conclusions can be drawn to modify the data collection techniques to meet the changing needs. A kinematic model of icebergs that also employs the Monte Carlo simulation technique has been developed to analyze the drifts of icebergs. In this model, the berg velocity is expressed as a function of the resultant surface current velocity averaged over the draft of an iceberg. An analysis of the data on the sightings of the iceberg in successive locations published by the International Ice Patrol for the period 1950 to 1956 has been made. A draft/depth ratio is randomly assigned to icebergs from a draft/depth ratio curve developed for this geographical region. Conclusions drawn for suggested improvements to the reports on sightings are similar to the changes already made by the International Ice Patrol in 1976. This fact validates the model. The model can be used for continued evaluation of the recent data to point up if any additional changes are necessary.

• 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:
  • Cheema, P S
  • Ahuja, H N
• Publication Date: 1977

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 565-572
• Serial:
  • Publication of: Offshore Technology Conference
  • Publisher: Offshore Technology Conference

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Drift ice; Ice; Icebergs; Simulation
• Old TRIS Terms: Ice reporting
• Subject Areas: Hydraulics and Hydrology; Marine Transportation; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00158031
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Offshore Technology Conference
• Report/Paper Numbers: V3, OTC 2951 Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 31 1977 12:00AM