The Antarctic Pack Ice in Winter

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Author: Herdman, H. F. P.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1953
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctica; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000025697; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000025697

Abstract A summary of the winter conditions at the edge of the pack ice around Antarctica, as observed on 16 occasions by the R.R.S. Discovery II between 1932 and 1951, is followed by a more detailed account of each visit. The state of the ice on the northern fringe of the pack is noted especially with reference to the various stages in the formation of pack ice. Detailed reference is also made on each occasion to the meteorological conditions obtaining not only during the ship’s stay on the ice edge but for 2 or 3 days beforehand. Despite the limited number of observations possible it would appear that the state or condition of the ice edge, at any one point in winter, is Iargely dependent on local weather conditions, and it is suggested that, basically, the condition of the ice edge falls into three or, possibly four main categories. Attention is drawn to the possible relationship between the sea surface temperature and the condition of the ice on the fringe of the pack but it is considered probable that the surface temperature has a greater effect on the distribution of pack ice generally, rather than on the state of the ice edge locally.