Observations of Ice Conditions and Properties in Norwegian Fjords during the Winter of 2018 and Implications for Oil Spill Response

• Main Authors: O'Sadnick, Megan Eileen, Petrich, Christian, Kleven, Øystein, Brekke, Camilla, Skarðhamar, J., Dang, Nga Phuong
• Format: Book Part
• Language: English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: Oljeforurensning; Oil pollution; Oil spill response; Ice conditions; VDP::Annen marin teknologi: 589; VDP::Other marine technology: 589; Arctic; Norway; Northern Norway; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11250/2640269

As the arctic opens to more development and increasing ship traffic, coastlines are at greater risk of oil pollution resulting from these operations. Fjords are one feature common throughout the arctic, with many dotting the coast of Norway. While these fjords often remain ice free year-round, some fjords in both southern and northern Norway can experience variations in ice extent from year to year. The properties of this ice, including porosity, can differ from that of the sea ice found in the open ocean given the influence of various factors including freshwater input, bathemetry, and climatic and oceanographic conditions. Given these variations, oil would likely interact with the ice in a way different from that expected with either sea ice or fresh water ice. To begin understanding the causes and extent of these variations and their potential impact on oil movement through the ice, observations of ice conditions and measurement of ice properties were made in fjords throughout northern Norway between January and May 2018. Results reveal significant variations in ice properties between fjords located geographically near to each other. The data provide a starting point to improve our understanding of why ice extent and properties vary between fjords and our ability to predict ice conditions on a more detailed scale in fjords and along arctic coastlines. Observations of Ice Conditions and Properties in Norwegian Fjords during the Winter of 2018 and Implications for Oil Spill Response acceptedVersion