A review of sea ice density
Abstract
The density of sea ice is an important property in many applications. However, due to its multi-phase composition of solid ice, solid salts, liquids and gas, the definition and measurement of density is not straightforward. The reported values vary over a wide range from 0.72 Mg m -3 to 0.94 Mg m -3, with an average of approximately 0.91 Mg m -3. The reasons for the spread are partly real, and partly a function of the test technique used for determining the density. Accurate measurements which represent the in situ density of first-year sea ice range from 0.84 to 0.91 Mg m -3 for the ice above the waterline, and 0.90 to 0.94 Mg m -3 for the ice below the waterline.
- Publication:
-
Cold Regions Science and Technology
- Pub Date:
- 1996
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 1996CRST...24....1T