ABSTRACT
Due to an active development of the shelf in the Arctic seas of Russia, it becomes necessary to define the parameters of the ice cover. The measures of the morphometric parameters of hummock masses are necessary to design offshore structures.
The Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, Federal State Budgetary Institution (AARI FSBI), with the support of ROSNEFT OIL COMPANY, Public Joint-Stock Company, conducts research works in the waters of the Arctic seas to collect oceanographic and ice-related data. In the waters of the Kara Sea, Laptev Sea and Chukchi Sea, submerged autonomous buoy stations (SABS) are installed. Such stations contain an upward-looking sonar designed to collect data on the deposition of ice formations drifting over the device.
The present thesis is dedicated to the measure of specific morphometric features of the lower ice surface in the waters of the three seas. It contains a brief description of the method for data collection and processing. The thesis gives a comparative analysis of the results obtained with the SABS during several ice seasons in different seas. It envisages intraseasonal (intra-annual), interseasonal (interannual) and spatial variability of the deposition of keel draft of hummocks both within the sea water borders and between the different water areas.
The offshore territories of the Russian Arctic seas have been actively explored lately. It is impossible to construct and smoothly operate hydraulic structures and communication lines, to plan rationally and implement any transport and cargo operations or to arrange environmental measures on the shelf without taking into account such important element as ice cover. The list of ice cover parameters for different stages of exploration of offshore areas specified by the regulatory documents (ISO, Industry-Specific Construction Standards, Construction Norms and Specifications, etc.) includes the measure of the morphometric parameters of the ice cover, including the assessment of hummock deposition.
Since 2012, AARI FSBI, with the support of ROSNEFT OIL COMPANY, PJSC, has been conducting research works in the water areas of the Arctic seas. To collect the oceanographic and ice-related data about the fluctuations of the sea level, current velocities and directions in the water mass, drift speeds and deposition of ice formations, submerged autonomous buoy stations (SABS) are installed annually in particular areas. Each of such stations is equipped with two acoustic devices: an acoustic Doppler current profiler and an upwardlooking sonar for ice profiling.
