Based on the analysis of published materials and field data on the temperature distribution in icebergs and iceberg-producing glaciers of Franz-Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya obtained by Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (SI AARI) in 2003 and 2005, the most possible areas of formation of some large icebergs are determined. In particular, the conclusion that the big tabular berg detected in the Shtokman Gas Condensed Field (Shtokman GCF) in 2003, most likely originated from one of the outlet glaciers of Franz-Josef Land is made. Earlier, the glaciers of Novaya Zemlya were pointed out as the source of this iceberg.
The problem of safety of offshore structures to be located on the shelf of the Barents Sea (primarily of the ice-resistant platform in the Shtokman GCF) requires a detailed study of the areas of generation of large icebergs and the conditions under which they can move from the northern part of the sea to the latitude of the Shtokman GCF. The importance of icebergs studies has sharply increased after the AARI expedition in 2003 detected an anomalously large number of icebergs in the Shtokman GCF area including very large samples of tabular bergs, which were repeatedly reported in different presentations and publications (Naumov et al., 2003; Buzin, 2004; Zubakin et al, 2005; Kubyshkin, 2005). For organizing the iceberg monitoring in the Shtokman GCF area, the objectives to be addressed should include the most probable sources of icebergs that could impact the area of Shtokman GCF. Immediately after detecting the iceberg anomaly of 2003, it was suggested that it was of Novaya Zemlya origin. One of the main arguments in favor of this suggestion was that glaciers of Novaya Zemlya were the closest source of iceberg generation to the sighted iceberg population.
