| Summary: | Since the Apr 1957 occupation of the first long-term US drifting station on sea ice, much has been learned about the properties of sea ice as a material. Properties of large, composite sheets of natural sea ice are still to be defined, however, because of the need for accurate knowledge of strength, roughness and albedo, among other parameters. In explanation of the ice cover, studies have been made of energy fluxes, radiative fluxes, albedos, wind and water flow profiles in boundary layers, air and ice temperature profiles and evaporation of condensation. There remain unresolved and complex questions concerning the circumstances under which the present ice cover could change.
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