INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE INCREASED SIGHTINGS OF ICE ISLANDS IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC

摘要

Over the 2002-2004 ice seasons there has been an increase in the number of ice island sightings in the North Atlantic, investigations are currently being conducted to establish if these sightings are an anomaly or part of a more permanent trend. Ice Islands are of particular interest to offshore oil and gas operations on the Grand Banks. Their large masses and shallow draft mean these very large icebergs may drift into the shallower waters of the Grand Banks, posing a threat to oil and gas facilities in the region. Also, their large size substantially limits the effectiveness of conventional towing techniques. The research thus far has defined the scope of the problem, established the probable source glacier, defined a detection and tracking program, and possible methods of deflecting these very large glacial masses. The paper concludes with how this program is being applied to manage ice islands within the context of offshore oil and gas operations.