Iceberg characterization for the bergy bit impact study

A bergy bit impact study was conducted in June, 2001 off the northeast coast of Newfoundland. This paper documents iceberg data collected during the experiments, which include above water dimensions and underwater profiles, temperature profiles and samples of iceberg ice from the contact zone for microstructural analysis. The characteristic iceberg dimensions were scaled from photographs based on the measured range from the camera to the iceberg. The lengths of the icebergs impacted ranged from 4 to 73 m. A multibeam sonar was attached to the side of an auxiliary vessel and used to profile the icebergs during the impact experiment. Iceberg temperatures measured using a thermistor probe ranged from near zero at the surface to a minimum of − 15.4 °C at 60 cm into the core of the iceberg. Iceberg mass was estimated from photographs of profile and oblique views as well as underwater profiles obtained using the multibeam sonar. Masses of icebergs impacted ranged from 21 to 22,000 tonnes. Characteristics of the virgin and impacted ice, as determined from the microstructural analysis, are discussed.