Orbital Sensing of Mackenzie Bay Ice Dynamics

Abstract

Satellite images are a useful tool in the study of sea ice dynamics. The results of studies using satellite images of Mackenzie Bay during the break-up and freeze-up periods are presented in maps and tables. These indicate important temporal variations in the processes of bay ice break-up and freeze-up. Though the Mackenzie Bay break-up proceeds from the south and from the north, the southern melt rate is faster because of an influx of warm water from the Mackenzie River. The freeze-up proceeds from south to north, i.e., from the fresh water area to the saline water area of the bay. The study of Mackenzie Bay ice dynamics is important because of the barge traffic through the Mackenzie River and also because of offshore drilling activities in the Beaufort Sea.