ABSTRACT 



A technique for predicting ice formation and growth is pre- 

 sented. The ice potential calculations originally discussed 

 by Zubov and Defant form part of the method, as do the 

 standard heat budget equations developed by various 

 authors. In addition, new formulas are derived for com- 

 puting ice growth in terms of known or predicted oceano- 

 graphic and meteorological data. The method is applied to 

 the problem of predicting the general features of the ice 

 distribution in the Baffin Bay- Davis Strait area for the 

 season 1952-53. It is pointed out that use of this method 

 must be limited to open-sea areas where winter and not 

 polar ice is the dominating feature. However, the technique 

 has important applications to estimating the general ice 

 features of such areas several months in advance. 



