Synoptic Ice Maps of the Meteorological Office

• Published in: Journal of Navigation
• Main Author: Tunnell, G. A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1968
• Subjects: Ocean Engineering; Oceanography; Antarctic; Arctic; Antarc*; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0373463300032331; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0373463300032331

For a considerable time fishing vessels, merchant ships, long-range forecasters and oceanographers have needed up-to-date sea ice information. This paper describes how the heterogeneous mass of ice information combined with the very thorough climatic analysis now available has been used to produce for the first time an up-to-date picture of the entire distribution of ice in the Polar Basin and areas adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean. For over a century a function of the Marine Division of the Meteorological Office has been the recording of Arctic and Antarctic sea ice, particularly since the Titanic disaster. However, the comprehensive hemispherical ice maps produced internationally have been several years in arrears. Ice information supplied to ships was therefore usually based on average conditions which suffice for planning well ahead or on long-range weather forecasts where it is necessary to follow ice development closely. It was decided in 1959 to organize a synoptic ice map with up-to-date ice and sea temperature information. Ice being more conservative than the weather, a map produced every ten days has proved to be sufficient.