Operational Polar Ice Forecasting

The Arctic is one of the most hostile operational environments in the world. Free drifting icebergs, shifting boundaries of pack ice, 24-hour darkness, sub-zero temperatures, icing on ship's equipment and superstructures and a lack of dependable logistical support can make Arctic operations ext...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Posey, Pamela S., Preller, Ruth H.
Other Authors: NAVAL RESEARCH LAB STENNIS SPACE CENTER MS OCEANOGRAPHY DIV
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 2005
Subjects:
Meteorology
Snow
Ice and Permafrost
*POLAR REGIONS
*FORECASTING
*ICE FORMATION
*ICE FORECASTING
TEMPERATURE
VOLUME
LOGISTICS SUPPORT
SHIPS
BOUNDARIES
ICE
ICEBERGS
CIRCLES
ARCTIC REGIONS
SUMMER
SUBMARINES
COLD WEATHER
ADVERSE CONDITIONS
CLIMATE
SHIFTING
PACK ICE
DRIFT
ACCURACY
AIRCRAFT
DAMAGE
REAL TIME
TRAFFIC
EDGES
PE0602435N
73-6646-85-5
Arctic
ACIA
Arctic Climate Impact Assessment
Ice
Iceberg*
permafrost
Online Access:http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA448202
http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA448202
Description
Summary:The Arctic is one of the most hostile operational environments in the world. Free drifting icebergs, shifting boundaries of pack ice, 24-hour darkness, sub-zero temperatures, icing on ship's equipment and superstructures and a lack of dependable logistical support can make Arctic operations extremely dangerous for ships, aircraft and submarines. Given these harsh operating conditions, real-time information and accurate forecasts can mean the difference between missing success and major equipment damage. Despite the difficulty of operations in this environment, numerous vessels transit the Arctic regularly and the volume of traffic is likely to increase in the near future because of diminishing ice cover. Scientists have conducted extensive research in the Arctic for the past several decades, but more recently, oil and gas interests have spurred increased Arctic exploration. Recently, a team of over 300 scientists confirmed unprecedented changes occurring north of the Arctic Circle. The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) released in November 2004 describes these changes, including a 3 per cent per decade northerly retreat of the ice edge or extent at the end of the summer season (Figure 1). Pub. in BUlletin, v 54 n3, Jul 2005.

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