Arctic drifting station

Abstract

Forecasting the nature, thickness, and movement of sea ice is a major problem in naval operations in polar areas. This problem faces the under‐ice submarine as well as surface ships. In fact, the sea‐ice forecasting problem has expanded from concern only with the marginal borders of the ice pack to need for information on the character of the whole frozen surface of the Arctic Ocean known as the Permanent Ice Pack. The variation in the thickness and size of individual floes, their movement and especially the zones of convergence and divergence are significant. These factors determine where the ice is likely to be unusually thick and where open leads or thin ice may be formed. Under‐ice navigation also requires information on the nature of the ocean floor, the circulation of the ocean water, its temperature, salinity, and acoustic characteristics.