A Study of Several Pressure Ridges and Ice Islands in the Canadian Beaufort Sea

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Hnatiuk, J., Kovacs, A., Mellor, M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1977
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Beaufort Sea; Journal of Glaciology; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000029555; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000029555

Abstract The environment conditions in the southern Beaufort Sea are described with special emphasis on pressure ridges and ice islands. Techniques for determining the geometric configurations and the physical and mechanical properties of sea-ice structures and ice islands are described. Profiles of pressure ridges were determined by surface surveys, drill-hole probes and side-looking sonar scanning. Multi-year pressure ridges with thicknesses up to 18 m and widths up to 110 m were examined in detail. The first-year ridge of 22 m thickness and 100 m width was studied. Results are given for several multi-year ridges and the first-year ridge. Information obtained from dives under the ice is also given. Corresponding data are given for grounded ice islands with particular attention being given to contact between the ice and sea bed. A 19 m thick ice-island fragment grounded in 13 m of water was one of several investigated. Measurements of temperature, salinity, tensile strength and compressive strength are given for ice taken from old pressure ridges and factors influencing the interpretation of test data are discussed. The data obtained in this study will be used in engineering design studies for off-shore structures for drilling and production of hydrocarbons from the Beaufort Sea area. Exploratory drilling in shallow water has already been carried out and off-shore drilling from drill ships is scheduled to commence in the study area during the open-water season of 1976. This paper will be published in full in a future issue of Journal of Glaciology.