Long-Term Tracking of Arctic Icebergs.

• Main Authors: Robe,R Q, Maier,D C
• Other Authors: COAST GUARD RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER GROTON CT
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1979
• Subjects: Snow; Ice and Permafrost; Acoustic Detection and Detectors; *TRACKING; *ICEBERGS; OCEAN CURRENTS; SHIPPING; ARCTIC REGIONS; BUOYS; GREENLAND; LABRADOR SEA; NIMBUS 6 rans; ADRAMS ice buoy system; International ice patrol; Arctic; Baffin Bay; Baffin Island; Cape Dyer; Dyer; Greenland; Newfoundland; Baffin; Ice; Iceberg*; Labrador Sea; permafrost
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA072473; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA072473

Seven Greenland icebergs were tracked, two in 1977 and five in 1978, using ADRAMS (Air-Deployable Random Access Measurement System) ice buoys. The ice buoys transmit a signal to the NIMBUS-6 satellite which is used in computing the buoy's position. Observation periods ranged from 138 days to 202 days. The tracking of two icebergs began near Disko Island, Greenland, and the tracking of the other five began on the Baffin Island side of Baffin Bay near Davis Straits. The icebergs initially located near Disko Island did not appear to be influenced by any well-defined current system, the drift track of each was erratic and the drift speeds generally less than 0.20 m/s. The icebergs initially located along the coast of Baffin Island followed the prevailing currents southward. These icebergs drifted at speeds as high as 0.8 m/s with model speeds generally falling between 0.10 m/s and 0.20 m/s. Groundings occurred frequently occupying 40 percent of the observed time. Data processing methods, accuracy of the ice buoy system, and a detailed analysis of each iceberg's drift is presented. It was estimated using the drift data obtained, that approximately 190 days are needed for an average size iceberg to travel the 1100 nautical miles from Cape Dyer, Baffin Island, to the outer limits of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. (Author)