Pressure ridge (ice)

A pressure ridge develops in an ice cover as a result of a stress regime established within the plane of the ice. Within sea ice expanses, pressure ridges originate from the interaction between floes,[note 1] as they collide with each other.[3][4][5][6] Currents and winds are the main driving forces, but the latter are particularly effective when they have a predominant direction.[7] Pressure ridges are made up of angular ice blocks of various sizes that pile up on the floes. The part of the ridge that is above the water surface is known as the sail; that below it as the keel.[note 2] Pressure ridges are the thickest sea ice features and account for about one-half of the total sea ice volume.[2] Stamukhi are pressure ridges that are grounded and that result from the interaction between fast ice and the drifting pack ice.[8][9]

Hypothetical interaction between two floes, resulting in a pressure ridge — a linear pile-up of sea ice fragments.
Field example of a pressure ridge. Only the sail is shown in this photograph. The keel is more difficult to document.
Although ice pressure ridges vary greatly in shape (which also evolves in time), this diagram shows how a drifting ridge is often idealized.[1][2]
pressure ridge at North Pole, [University of Giessen] expedition, April 17, 1990
A pressure ridge in the Antarctic ice near Scott Base, with lenticular clouds in the sky.

Internal structure

The blocks making up pressure ridges are mostly from the thinner ice floe involved in the interaction, but it can also include pieces from the other floe if it is not too thick.[6] In the summer, the ridge can undergo a significant amount of weathering, which turns it into a smooth hill. During this process, the ice loses its salinity (as a result of brine drainage). This is known as an aged ridge.[3][4] A consolidated ridge is one whose base has undergone complete freezing.[3][4] The term consolidated layer is used to designate freezing up of the rubble just below the water line.[7] The existence of a consolidated layer depends on air temperature — in this layer, the water between individual blocks is frozen, with a resulting reduction in porosity and an increase in mechanical strength. A keel's depth of an ice ridge is much higher than its sail's height - typically about four times. The keel is also 2-3 times wider than the sail.[10]

Thickness

One of the largest pressure ridges on record had a sail extending 12 metres (39 ft) above the water surface, and a keel depth of 45 metres (148 ft).[6] The total thickness for a multiyear ridge was reported to be 40 metres (130 ft).[11] On average, total thickness ranges between 5 metres (16 ft) and 30 metres (98 ft),[2] with a mean sail height that remains below 2 metres (6.6 ft).[7]

Characterization methods

The physical characterization of pressure ridges can be done using the following methods:[7]

  • Mechanical drilling, whereby augers designed for ice are driven through the ridge, and the core retrieved for analysis.
  • Surveying, whereby a level, theodolite or a differential GPS system is used to determine sail geometry.
  • Thermal drilling – drilling involving melting of the ice.
  • Observation of the ice canopy by scuba divers.
  • Upward looking sonars.
  • A series of thermistors, to monitor temperature changes.
  • Electromagnetic induction, from the ice surface or from an aircraft.

Interest for pressure ridges

From an offshore engineering and naval perspective, there are three reasons why pressure ridges are a subject of investigation.[2] Firstly, because the highest loads applied on offshore structures operating in cold oceans by drift ice are associated with these features. Secondly, when pressure ridges drift into shallower areas, their keel may come into contact with the seabed, thereby representing a risk for subsea pipelines (see Seabed gouging by ice) and other seabed installations. Thirdly, they have a significant impact on navigation. In the Arctic, ridged ice makes up about 40% of the overall mass of sea ice.[10]

See also

Notes
  1. A floe is any individual piece of sea ice larger than 20 metres (66 ft).
  2. These terms also apply for any floating ice feature, such as icebergs.

References
  1. Timco, G. W. & Burden, R. P. (1997). An analysis of the shapes of sea ice ridges. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 25, pp. 65-77.
  2. Leppäranta, M. (2005). The Drift of Sea Ice. Springer-Verlag, New York, 266 p.
  3. http://nsidc.org/cryosphere/seaice/index.html Archived 2012-10-28 at the Wayback Machine.
  4. "Erreur HTTP 404 - non trouvé". Archived from the original on 2012-10-21. Retrieved 2012-11-20.
  5. http://www.aari.nw.ru/gdsidb/XML/volume1.php?lang1=0&lang2=1&arrange=1 Archived 2013-12-03 at the Wayback Machine.
  6. Weeks, W. F. (2010) On sea ice. University of Alaska Press, Fairbanks, 664 p.
  7. Strub-Klein, L. & Sudom, D. (2012). A comprehensive analysis of the morphology of first-year sea ice ridges. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 82, pp. 94-109.
  8. Barnes, P.W., D., McDowell & Reimnitz, E. (1978). Ice gouging characteristics: Their changing patterns from 1975-1977, Beaufort Sea, Alaska. United States Department of the Interior, Geological Survey Open File Report 78-730, Menlo Park, U.S.A., 42 p.
  9. Ogorodov, S.A. & Arkhipov, V.V. (2010) Caspian Sea bottom scouring by hummocky ice floes. Doklady Earth Sciences, 432, 1, pp. 703-707.
  10. Wadhams, P. (2000). Ice in the Ocean. Gordon and Breach Science Publ., London, 351 p.
  11. Johnston, M., Masterson, D. & Wright, B. (2009). Multi-year ice thickness: knowns and unknowns. Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Port and Ocean Engineering under Arctic Conditions (POAC), Luleå, Sweden.
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