Types of ice.

Basic ice
physics
Formation of ice
As it cools, water contracts until the temperature of maximum
density is reached.
Further cooling results in expansion.
The maximum density of fresh water occurs at a temperature
of 4.0

C, and freezing takes place at 0

C
Formation of ice
The addition of salt lowers both the temperature of maximum
density and, to a lesser extent, that of freezing
Further cooling results in expansion.
The maximum density of fresh water occurs at a temperature
of 4.0

C, and freezing takes place at 0

C
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Salinity
As the density of surface seawater increases
with decreasing temperature, convective
density-driven currents are induced bringing
warmer, less dense water to the surface.
Ice will begin forming at the water
surface when density currents
cease and the surface water
reaches its freezing point. In shoal
water, however, the mixing process
can be sufficient to extend the
freezing temperature from surface
to the bottom.
Thickness of sea ice
2 meters during its first year (if no deformation);
3.5 -

4.5 meters in coastal areas.
The growth of sea ice depends on:
Air temperature;
Initial ice thickness;
Snow depth;
Wind speed;
Seawater salinity and density;
Specific heats of sea ice and seawater.
Zubovs formula
h

+ 50h = 8
h

ice thickness in cm for a given
day;

is the cumulative number of frost
degree days in C

since the beginning
of the freezing season
Land ice
Land ice is formed on land by the freezing
of freshwater or the compacting of snow as
layer upon layer adds to the pressure on
that beneath.
Ice cap
If a large area is relatively flat, or if the outward flow is
obstructed, an ice cap

forms and remains essentially
permanent.
Under great pressure,
ice becomes slightly
plastic, and is forced
downward along and
inclined surface.
Where ravines or
mountains passes
permit flow of the ice,
a glacier

is formed.
Glacier
Iceberg
When a glacier reaches a comparatively level area, it
spreads out. When a glacier flows into the sea, the buoyant
force of the water breaks off pieces from time to time, and
these float away as icebergs.
Types of icebergs
Dome shaped
Pinnacled
Tabular
Weathered
Bergy bit
A relatively large piece of floating ice, generally extending
1 to 5 meters above the sea surface and normally about
100 to 300 square meters in area, is called a bergy bit.
Growler
A smaller piece of ice, extending less than 1 meter above
the sea surface and occupying an area of about 20 m

is
called a growler.
Rams
Another danger is from underwater extensions, called
rams,

which are usually formed due to melting or
erosion above the waterline at a faster rate than below.
Ice front
Ice front

forms the seaward face of a massive ice sheet
or floating glacier.
Ice wall
Ice wall, which is the ice cliff forming the seaward
margin of a glacier which is aground.
Sea ice
Sea ice forms by the freezing of seawater
and accounts for 95% of all ice encountered
Frazil ice
The first indication of formation of sea ice is frazil ice

(small, individual crystals of ice)
Grease ice
Grease ice

is formed when the ice crystals coagulate to
form a soupy layer on the surface, giving the sea a matte
appearance
Shuga
Shuga

is an accumulation of spongy white ice lumps
developing from grease ice.
Nilas
Upon further freezing grease ice and shuga will develop
into nilas, an elastic crust of high salinity with a matte
surface, or
Ice rind
into ice rind, a brittle, shiny crust of low salinity
Pancake ice
When new ice becomes older, thicker, more brittle and
exposed to the influence of wind and wave action,
separated circular pieces of ice or pancake ice

develops.
Ice cake
Any single piece of flat sea ice less than 20m across is
called an ice cake
Ice floe
With continued low temperatures, individual ice cakes and
pancake ice either freeze together, forming a continuous
sheet or unite into pieces of ice 20 m or more across. These
are called ice floes.
Ice field
Ice floes may further freeze together to form an ice
covered area greater than 10km across known as an ice

field
Young ice
When sea ice reaches a thickness of between 10 to 30 cm
it is referred as young ice, and is the transition stage
between nilas and first-year ice
First-year ice
First-year

ice usually attains a thickness of between
30 cm and 2 m in its first winters growth
Old ice
Ice which has survived at least one summers melt is
classified as old ice
Multiyear ice
Old ice which has attained a thickness of 3m or more and
has survived at least two summers

melt is called
multiyear ice

and is almost salt free.
Ice concentrations:
Open water

(total concentration of all ice is less than 1/10);
Very open pack

(1-3 tenths concentration);
Open pack

(4-6 tenths concentration);
Close pack

(7-8 tenths concentration);
Very close pack

(9-10 to 10-10 concentration);
Compact or consolidated pack

(100% coverage).
Fresh water ice
Fresh water ice:
Lake ice;
River ice.
Generally fresh water ice has white and crystal like
colours. The fresh water ice is very hard and thick ice is
dangerous for shipping. Characteristics are alike a
Glacier ice or old ice
Fresh water ice
New fresh water ice -

< 5 cm;
Thin fresh water ice -

5-15 cm;
Medium fresh water ice -

15-30 cm;
Thick fresh water ice -

30-70 cm;
Very thick fresh water ice -

> 70 cm.
A brief note on the formation of sea ice.
Sea water freezes at about -

2

C, Depending on
salinity. At certain stage of freezing brine is
trapped in small pockets in ice. At this stage this
newly formed ice is relatively soft and pliable
Melting and disintegration of sea ice.
The process of melting and disintegration of sea ice is
more complex than its formation and growth, and will
depend on the salt content and age of the ice.
Melting and disintegration of sea ice.
Puddles or pools
As summer progresses, surface of the ice and the
snow cover melt forming puddles or pools of fresh or
nearly fresh water, and these increase steadily in size.
Melting and disintegration of sea ice.
Thaw holes
The puddles absorb more radiation from the sun than
the adjoining ice surface and develop into thaw holes
through the ice. This results in the gradual break up of
the ice.
Melting and disintegration of sea ice.
Honeycombed appearance of some of the forms of sea
ice in the final stages of melting and disintegration.
Glacier ice (ice originating from glaciers).
Glacier ice (ice originating from glaciers).
Glacier ice (ice originating from glaciers).
A note on the stability of icebergs.
The centre of gravity of an iceberg (G) is usually very
close to and just above the centre of buoyancy (B).
This results in relatively poor stability.
A note on the stability of icebergs.
Due to continuous process of erosion and melting, particularly
of the submerged portion, the shape of an iceberg is
continually changing. When the iceberg becomes top heavy
and G and B move to G

and B, The iceberg will capsize.
A note on the stability of icebergs.
After capsizing, G and B assume new locations G

and B

and the process will continue until the iceberg completely
melts or disintegrates reaching warmer waters.
Wherever there are ice bergs, there may also be growlers
or other ice debris which break away from ice bergs and
usually drift downwind, and which should be avoided.
Normally they should be passed to windward.
Pass to windward if possible
Pack ice

any accumulation of sea ice other
than fast ice.
Open water
Concentration:
0 to 1/10
Very open pack
Concentration:
1/10 to 3/10
Open pack
Concentration:
4/10 to 6/10
Close pack
Concentration:
7/10 to 9/10
Very close pack
Consolidated pack: 10/10
(Floes frozen together)
Compact pack 10/10
(No water visible)
A floe

a relatively flat piece of floating ice.
Small floes

20 to 100 m across
Medium floes

100 to 500 m across
Big floes

500 to 2 km across
Vast floes

2 to 10 km across
Giant floes

over 10 km across
Other ice terms in general use.
Ice cake
Floes are smaller
than 20 m across
Brash ice
Fragments of ice not
more than 2 m across
Pancake ice
New ice,
approximately
circular, about 0.3 m
to 3.0 m across
Ice ridge.
Keels may extend as much as 50 m below sea level
Hummocked ice.
Hummocks
Bummocks
Rafted ice.
Common in newly formed sea ice
Ice strips.
A long narrow area of pack ice about 1 km or less in
width composed of small fragments of ice
Ice patch.
An area of pack ice less than 10 km across
Floeberg.
A floeberg is a massive piece of sea ice composed of
hummocked ice frozen together, thickness up to 5 m
above sea level
Pressure in ice.
Open pack, no pressure. Passage through such ice can
be made with reasonable ease and safety during day
light hours in good visibility depending on type of ice and
vessels ice class
Pressure in ice.
Due to wind action the open pack now becomes very close
pack or consolidated or compact pack with ice hummocking
and ridging, and floes freezing together. In this state it could

be impossible even by powerful icebreaker
Ice detection by marine radar
Types of ice on the
radar screen
Types of ice on the
radar screen