Author(s): M. A. Lange
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Abstract: We summarize major properties of Antarctic sea ice as seen during a number of expeditions to the Weddell Sea. Our investigations are concentrated on the assessment of ice texture and its relation to physical, chemical and biological properties of sea ice. The textural distribution of Antarctic sea ice is dominated by granular ice of frazil origin. This is a consequence of the main processes of ice formation in the advancing ice edge, the "pancake cycle". Ice thicknesses of undeformed and deformed first year ice lie between 0.4 to 0.8 m and 0.8 to 1.1 m, respectively. In the near absence of congelation growth at the ice-water interface, formation of snow ice and the incorporation of meteoric ice into sea ice floes become significant processes.
Year: 1990