Analysis of the under-ice topography in the Arctic Basin as recorded by the USS Nautilus during

• Main Author: Alfred S Mclaren
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1988
• Subjects: Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Canada; Nautilus; North Pole; Arctic Basin; Arctique*; canada basin; Central Arctic; Pôle Nord; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.493.3967; http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/Arctic41-2-117.pdf

ABSTRACT. The USS Nautilus (SSN-571) was the first vesse1 to cross the Arctic Basin via the North Pole in early August 1958. During this expedition almost continuous acoustic under-ice thickness distribution profiles were recorded. This article presents an overall statistical analysis of the under-ice draft measurements obtained during this historic cruise. Geographic areas found to have distinct under-ice characteristics and ice compositions are identified. Principal findings are: (1) Nautilus recorded an overall mean under-ice draft of 3.68 m across the Arctic Basin; (2) the under-ice topography becomes progressively more severe when proceeding from the Canadian to the Eurasian side of the Arctic Basin; (3) the Canada Basin was observed to contain the most moderate under-ice topography and the greatest number of open water and refrozen polynyas and leads along the transpolar route taken by Nautilus; (4) Nautilus encountered the most severe under-ice topography of the voyage over the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge; and (5) an overall Arctic Basin mean of 2.6 % open waterhew ice (<30 cm) was encountered during her voyage beneath the sea ice cover of the Arctic Ocean. Key words: sea ice, under-ice thickness distribution, sonar, Canada Basin, Central Arctic, Eurasian Basin, arctic submarine RÉSUMÉ. Le sous-marin Nautilus (SSN-571) fut le premier bâtiment àtraverser le bassin arctique via le Pôle Nord, au début d’août 1958. Au cours de l’expédition, on réalisa, de dessous la glace et de façon presque ininterrompue, des enregistrements acoustiques de la distribution de I’épaisseur de la glace. Cet article présente une analyse statistique générale des mesures du tirant d’eau de la glace prises lors de ce voyage historique. On a identifié les zones géographiques qui ont montré des caractéristiques distinctes du dessous de la glace ainsi que des compositions différentes de la glace.