HEAT FLUX THROUGH THE POLAR OCEAN ICE.

• Main Author: Vowinckel,E.
• Other Authors: MCGILL UNIV MONTREAL (QUEBEC)
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1964
• Subjects: *THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY; *ICE; METEOROLOGY; ARCTIC OCEAN; HEAT TRANSFER; SALINITY; DENSITY; THICKNESS; AGING(MATERIALS); POLAR REGIONS; Arctic; Arctic Ocean
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0607277; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0607277

It was found desirable to check the results of previously calculated heat release from the water of the Polar Ocean by an independent investigation of the amount of heat conducted through the Polar Ocean ice. Density and salinity of the ice were taken as constants and it was then necessary to determine the areal extent of the ice cover and the mean temperature and temperature gradients in the ice. Furthermore, the contributions of the different ice thicknesses to the total ice cover had to be determined for each month. The total heat flux was then determined by a weighted average for each month. The monthly flux values, reduced to the average sq cm of surface (made up of both ice and water), are given for various areas, and the annual flux through ice of different ages is given for the Central Polar Ocean. The flux values obtained are compared with the energy available from ocean currents (including export of ice). The correspondence is very close: The two alternatives for available energy are 8,486 cal/sq cm, year and 8,986 cal/sq cm, year. The calculated heat flux was 8,517 cal/sq cm, year. (Author)