Consistency of data presented on modern maps of ice cover in the Arctic

Information about the condition of ice cover on surface of the water, which are the content of map, are important for carrying out safe navigation and efficient economic activity in the polar regions. Methods of mapping can be fully automated on the basis of developed through years of experience algorithms or additionally supported by experienced professionals. The content of some of those now commonly encountered maps is compiled on the basis of mixed methods. In this work geographic positions of ice maps content are analyzed taking into consideration their usefulness for planning ship’s voyage in ice. The results of this work allow using the contents of studied maps for determining the ship’s route in ice and voyage planning of the ship in ice according to her hull strengthening.

The ice maps often have boundary lines for different values of reference. The maximum width of the strips of each boundary line within the Marginal Ice Zone is 100 km. The mean square error of position of the analyzed maps is +/− 2.0 km. Average locations of boundaries are consistent except for GRIB type maps of the OSI SAF and NIS, which seem to indicate much lower value of ice floe concentration. The NIC MIZ maps and S-411 standard maps are consistent for the 13% and 81% concentration. The 40% limits on MASIE maps and 46% limits of concentration on S-411 standard maps are also consistent. The course of ice edge issued by the NIS for the GMDSS METAREA, 19 region visualizes well the boundaries of the area where the ship might encounter any form of ice. Information of the GMDSS METAREA 20 region issued by the AARI represents the average of the limits 1 to 46% of all sources of information, and on average the 13% limit of ice concentration. The one-year old ice limit with thickness of 0.10 to 0.30 meters on the AARI map is consistent with course and average location of boundaries of 81% ice concentration on the NIC MIZ map and S-411 standard map. The multi-year old ice limit of thickness from 0.30 to 2.00 meters on the AARI map is coincident with the 79% limit of concentration displayed on the NIS map.