PRIORITIZATION OF ICEBERG GROUNDING EVENTS FROM ICE SEASON DOCUMENTATION

• Main Authors: Brown, Rob, McClintock, J., Bullock, T., Sonnichsen, G.
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: 2003
• Subjects: TC Hydraulic engineering. Ocean engineering; Arctic
• Online Access: https://research.library.mun.ca/1734/; https://research.library.mun.ca/1734/1/POAC_Prioritization_of_iceberg_.pdf; https://research.library.mun.ca/1734/3/POAC_Prioritization_of_iceberg_.pdf

Nine icebergs were reported to have grounded on the northeastern Grand Banks during the year 2000 ice season. Documentation of possible groundings provides a basis for planning seabed scour surveys and thus the ability to study the degradation of scours over time, knowing the exact date of scour creation. All available data for the nine reported grounding events were examined and are summarized in this paper. These data include photographs, iceberg principal dimensions, iceberg drift tracks, seabed bathymetry, winds, currents, icemanagement tow force and direction and comments made by crew and ice observers. The data were then used to prioritize each of the events for the likelihood of finding a scour mark during field surveys. The prioritization was based on five criteria: event duration, local bathymetry, environmental driving forces, crew and observer comments and presence of older, previously measured scours in the area. Modelling of the scour process was conducted in an attempt to estimate scour length and depth for each event. These modelling efforts were completed in an attempt to help validate the scour model, as well as to provide further information on the likelihood of locating reported scours.