Canadian proposal for changes in WMO sea ice terminology

• Published in: Polar Record
• Main Author: Dunbar, Moira
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1965
• Subjects: General Earth and Planetary Sciences; Ecology; Geography, Planning and Development; Polar Record; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0032247400059519; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0032247400059519

The World Meteorological Organization International Ice Nomenclature, though it has not yet been officially published by the international agency, is in fact in general use in North America, and has been used by the Canadian ice reporting services since January 1962. As a result of this experience with the practical application of the terminology, and of a total of about ten years of operational ice reporting, Canadian users have compiled a list of proposed amendments, which has been officially submitted to WMO for consideration by the Maritime Commission. The proposal was co-ordinated through the Working Group on Ice Navigable Waters of the Canadian Committee on Oceanography, which represents virtually all Canadian agencies and individuals directly involved in ice operations and research. It thus reflects a fairly broad spectrum of Canadian opinion on the subject. The proposals are dealt with under four general headings: “Fast ice terms”, “Age categories”, “Topography”, and “Other amendments”. Many of these amendments are of a minor nature and it is not proposed to itemize them here. In view of the fact, however, that the processes of WMO are of necessity rather slow, it was felt that there might be some value in publishing the proposals in the age-category section, which are considered to be the most important, for the information and possibly discussion of those interested.