Physical conditions of fast‐ice formation in East Antarctica

Abstract

Studies of the fast ice formations around Antarctica have assumed increasing importance as the ice is being used as a natural loading and unloading platform for ship‐borne supplies to Antarctic stations. Each year, Soviet expedition ships deliver up to 12,000 tons of cargo to Antarctica, much of which is transported from ship to shore over fast ice. This use of the ice requires thorough knowledge about its bearing strength and the factors that are likely to weaken or break it. The following article discusses the general meteorological and hydrologic conditions accounting for fast‐ice formation, shoreline morphology and fast‐ice distribution, as well as the morphology of the fast ice itself.