A Sea Ice Terrain Model and Its Application to Surface Vehicle Trafficability

• Main Authors: Hibler, III, W D, Ackley, S F
• Other Authors: COLD REGIONS RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING LAB HANOVER NH
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1973
• Subjects: Snow; Ice and Permafrost; Surface Effect Vehicles & Amphibious Vehicles; *SEA ICE; *TRAFFICABILITY; ARCTIC REGIONS; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; MOBILITY; PACK ICE; SURFACE EFFECT VEHICLES; TERRAIN MODELS; Arctic; Ice; permafrost; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0774195; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0774195

A sea ice terrain model, based upon previously tested height and spacing distributions for sea ice pressure ridging, is developed. Using this model, and additional information on pressure ridge extents, a trafficability model for vehicles traversing the pack ice is developed. Both analytic and Monte Carlo calculations of vehicle trafficability, measured in terms of the average ratio of the total distance traveled over a straight-line distance, are performed. The calculations include cul-de-sacs due to ridge intersections. The trafficability ratio is given as a function of ridge-height-clearance ability of the vehicle and of ridging parameters which may be obtained from laser profiles of the arctic pack ice. (Modified author abstract)