On the Spreading of Old Ice in the Barents Sea

摘要

This article contains an analysis of the distribution of old ice in the Barents Sea for the 1955-2007 period. The archived, comprehensive ice charts, drawn on the basis of the results of ice air reconnaissance and satellite data, have been analyzed. Cases of intrusion of old ice southward of 78°N have been examined, coordinates of boundaries of its distribution zones measured, and information on old-ice partial concentration and floe sizes obtained. These data were used to reflect old-ice spatial and temporal variations of concentration and floe sizes, and to get probability assessments of its distribution in the Barents Sea as well.