Guide for understanding and identifying old ice in summer

• Main Authors: Johnston, M. E., Timco, G. W.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: first-year ice; second-year ice; multi-year ice; key identifiers; thickness; satellite imagery; aerial observations; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/accepted/?id=990fa669-b87a-4c97-bda5-7aa80ee947a4; https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/object/?id=990fa669-b87a-4c97-bda5-7aa80ee947a4; https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/fra/voir/objet/?id=990fa669-b87a-4c97-bda5-7aa80ee947a4

Visual observation is the best means of detecting hazardous ice, however operators currently have very little information at their disposal to help determine whether an ice feature is first-year, secondyear or multi-year ice. This paper describes a four-year project that was undertaken to develop a guide to explain the factors that make multi-year ice hazardous to ships and structures, and to illustrate the key parameters that can be used to identify different types of sea ice. The guide is entitled Understanding and Identifying Old Ice in Summer. Its more than 200 pages of information are meant to supplement, and help interpret, observations from ships, offshore platforms, aerial reconnaissance and satellite imagery. Paper No. ICETECH08-149-RF Peer reviewed: Yes NRC publication: Yes