III. MISCELLANEOUS 



A, Ice Conditions 



1, Winter 1955 - USCGC NORTHWIND 



Ice conditions observed from the NORTHWIND during the winter months 

 are shown in Figures 17 and 18. Observations were recorded in the ship's 

 ice log at 6-hour intervals wherever sea ice was encountered. Weekly 

 summaries of these observations are presented in Table 1* 



The southern boundary of the ice pack was first encountered on 

 5 March in the vicinity of 58°N, 169°W. Large patches of slush ice ex- 

 tended south from the edge of the pack. Station 1 was occupied just 

 within the ice pack, which consisted of 7/10 to 8/10 concentration of 

 winter and young ice 1 to 2 feet thick. On 8 March the NORTHWIND had 

 penetrated the ice about 80 miles. At this point the pack was observed 

 to be breaking up under the influence of 50-knot winds and 20-foot 

 swells. Progressing northward, the concentration of ice increased to 

 lO/lO with thicknesses of U to 6 feet. Numerous cracks and leads and a 

 few polynyas were scattered throughout the ice pack. Generally, ice was 

 rafted and ridged with a snow cover varying from 6 inches to 2 feet» 

 Heavily ridged ice of lO/lO concentration, U feet thick, with 1 to if 

 feet of snow cover was encountered about 6 miles off Nomeo This ice 

 prevented the vessel from putting in for logistics, and considerably 

 slowed down the progress of the vessel. When the ice boundary was en- 

 countered again in April, it had moved southward. 



Figure 19 presents an aerial photograph of the NORTHWIND taken on 

 1 April when the ship was fast in an ice floe. The position of the ship 

 was approximately kO miles southwest of Ncsne, Photogi*aphs taken from 

 the ship simultaneously with the aerial photograph are also shown. The 

 floe consisted of 9/10 concentration of winter and young ice about 2^ 

 feet thick with a 1- to 2-foot snow cover. Some rafting was evident, 



2, Spring 1955 - USS BURTON ISUND 



Ice conditions obsei*ved from the EURTON ISLAND during the spring 

 months are shown in Figures 20 and 21, Observations were made at 6-hour 

 intervals, A daily svanmary of ice conditions is presented in Table 2, 



The ice pack was first encountered ty the BURTON ISLAND on 26 April 

 at approximately 60°N, 178°W. The pack consisted of lO/lO concentration 

 of winter and young ice 3 feet thick. Some plankton discolored ice was 

 observed at this time. This same general condition persisted along the 

 ship's track until approximately 2 May (63°N), the ice concentration 

 varying from 6/10 to lO/lO, To the south and west of Nome, the ice con- 



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