BIRDS EYE 6-66, 6-28 AUGUST 1966.

• Main Author: Dehn, W. S.
• Other Authors: NAVAL OCEANOGRAPHIC OFFICE NSTL STATION MS
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1966
• Subjects: Physical and Dynamic Oceanography; *ARCTIC OCEAN); (*SEA ICE; (*OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA; SEA ICE); ARCTIC REGIONS; SURFACE PROPERTIES; ICE ISLANDS; POLAR REGIONS; SNOW; PERIODIC VARIATIONS; FREEZING; ARCTIC OCEAN ISLANDS; TERRAIN; AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY; CRACKS; VISUAL INSPECTION; NAVAL RESEARCH; TABLES(DATA); BIRDS EYE MISSIONS(POLAR RESEARCH FLIGHTS); Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Greenland; Wrangel Island; ice pack; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0805000; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0805000

Data collected by ice observers from the U. S. Naval Oceanographic Office on polar research flights known as BIRDS EYE missions are contained in this report covering the sixth mission of 1966 (BE 6-66). The manner in which these data were recorded is discussed. The percentage of effectiveness of this mission is included as an evaluation table. The only significant change in the condition of the polar basin ice pack from BE 5-66 was refrozen puddles and one third to completely refrozen small water features in the inner pack. In addition, new snow cover hampered recording of smaller topographical features. The ice pack was generally nine to ten tenths polar ice with younger stages of development. Although many pools and small polynyas were recorded, no leads of significant length were observed. Lighter concentrations and later stages of disintegration were observed east of Greenland and north of Wrangel Island. Floating ice station T-3 was located, and large open water areas were observed north and south of the station. Low stratus and fog persisted over the reconnaissance area; however, low flight altitudes allowed almost continual ice observations. Training and familiarization photographs were taken of ice features and the approaches to arctic bases. BE 6-66 was conducted entirely during daylight conditions and the effectiveness was excellent.