ICE F0Rf4ATI0N AND GROWTH IN 1959 



Ice was first observed on l6 September along the eastern fringe 

 of North Star Bugt at a point where fresh water flows from the Pitufik 

 River. By 2^+ September grease ice formed in an area northeast of the 

 pier, where shallow water was observed to cool to the freezing point 

 during low tide. This grease ice drifted westward with the next ebb 

 tide. By 7 October a considerable amount of pancake ice had formed in 

 the area northeast of the pier. 



During the morning of 8 October a foehn wind arose with gusts to 

 approximately 50 knots. The air temperatvire increased from 17° to 

 3ho F. On the following morning, the bay was completely clear of ice 

 and the surface water temperature had increased from -1.22^ to -0,9^° C. 



During the morning of 10 October grease and pancake ice of small 

 diameter formed over most of the area northeast of the pier. On 11 

 October a considerable amount of large pancake ice was observed drift- 

 ing Into the region from the south. The areas to the south, west, and 

 northwest of the pier attained a coverage of approximately nine-tenths; 

 no major ice formation was observed near the pier. By 15 October most 

 of the bay was covered with young floes averaging approximately 10 feet 

 in diameter. Ten-tenths concentration of young ice accumulated every- 

 where by 20 October' except in the ice-free area adjacent to the pier. 



DATA COLLECTION 



Serial temperature, salinity, and current data were obtained at 

 the locations shown in Figure 2. Temperature and salinity observa- 

 tions were taken between 9 September and 21 October. 



Station 1 was occupied daily using a small hand winch mounted on 

 the pier or by use of an oceanographic winch aboard the WESTWIND. For 

 detailed observations, the polynya was divided into Stations lA, IB, 

 and IC as shown in Figure 3« Station ID was designated at a point ly- 

 ing approximately 15 feet outside the polynya area and near the east- 

 ern end of the pier. Stations 2, 3> and ^ were occupied twice weekly 

 using either a Greenland cruiser or an LCVP. Station 5 was occupied 

 only on 15 September and Station ID only on 13 October. Stations 6, 

 7, 8, and 9 were occupied weekly by the WESTWIND. 



A 200- foot bathythermograph was used to measure temperature at 

 all oceanographic stations. BT drops were made dally within the 

 polynya area. Original plans had included daily observations at Sta- 

 tions 1, lA, and IB; however, presence of shipping often precluded 

 data-collection at all 3 locations. A bucket thermometer was used in 

 conjunction with each BT drop to obtain surface water temperature. 



