Ice Arching and the Drift of Pack Ice through Restricted Channels

• Main Author: Sodhi, Devinder S.
• Other Authors: COLD REGIONS RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING LAB HANOVER NH
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1977
• Subjects: Snow; Ice and Permafrost; *SEA ICE; *PACK ICE; CHANNELS(WATERWAYS); BERING STRAIT; RECONNAISSANCE SATELLITES; FLOW RATE; DRIFT; AMUNDSEN GULF; ICE ARCHING; Bering Strait; Amundsen Gulf; Ice; ice pack; permafrost; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA044218; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA044218

MODELS ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED TO DESCRIBE THE ARCHING AND THE MOVEMENT OF GRANULAR MATERIALS THROUGH hoppers OR CHUTES ARE APPLIED TO THE ARCHING AND DRIFT OF PACK ICE IN STRAITS AND GULFS having lengths OF 50 TO 500 KM. Verification of the usefulness of the models is attempted by making comparisons with ice deformation patterns as observed via satellite imagery in the Bering Strait region and in Amundsen Gulf. The results are encouraging in that there is good correspondence between observed arching and lead patterns and those predicted by theory. In addition, values determined via the model for the angle of internal friction (approximately 30 deg to 35 deg) and the cohesive strength per unit thickness (approximately 2000 N/m) are similar to values obtained by other approaches. It is estimated that if the wind velocity parallel to the Bering Strait exceeds approximately 6 m/s, there will be ice flow through the strait.