A review of sea ice density

• Published in: Cold Regions Science and Technology
• Main Authors: Timco, G. W., Frederking, R. M. W.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 1996
• Subjects: Sea ice
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-232X(95)00007-X; https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/object/?id=2cc6d195-f057-4e95-b4ec-2bf4d36fa428; https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/fra/voir/objet/?id=2cc6d195-f057-4e95-b4ec-2bf4d36fa428

The density of sea ice is an important property in many applications. However, due to its multi-phase composition of solid ice, solid salts, liquids and gas, the definition and measurement of density is not straightforward. The reported values vary over a wide range from 0.72 Mg m⁻³ to 0.94 Mg m⁻³, with an average of approximately 0.91 Mg m⁻³. The reasons for the spread are partly real, and partly a function of the test technique used for determining the density. Accurate measurements which represent the in situ density of first-year sea ice range from 0.84 to 0.91 Mg m⁻³ for the ice above the waterline, and 0.90 to 0.94 Mg m⁻³ for the ice below the waterline. NRC publication: Yes