| Abstract | Ice forms in water bodies under the influence of climate, oceanography, and the geography of the surrounding land. It grows as a result of thermal processes and mechanical processes. First‐year level sea ice can grow thermally to a maximum thickness of about 2 and 2.5 m in extreme winters. Ice floes interacting with each other can build accumulations of broken ice, ridges, which can attain sail heights of 5 m and keel depths of 25 m, but are usually smaller. In some seas, the ice does not completely melt in summer and perennial accumulation of deformed multi‐year ice can reach thicknesses greater than 10 m. Large seasonal and interannular variations in ice are normal and superimposed on them are the effects of longer term climate changes. Different sea areas have varying combinations of these ice types throughout the year. The likely ice conditions encountered in various sea areas of interest for marine and offshore operations are described. |
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