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Iceberg sounding by impulse radar

Nature volume 271, pages 48–50 (1978)Cite this article

Abstract

KNOWLEDGE of an iceberg's draft is essential for assessing its risk to underwater installations, in predicting its drift, and for estimating its total bulk. Because of the highly irregular shape of icebergs, it is impossible to estimate an iceberg's draft directly from its above-water dimensions. Large tabular icebergs have been sounded using radio techniques1,2. We report here that estimates of the draft of irregularly-shaped icebergs can also be obtained from the air quickly and accurately using short-pulse radar. A small iceberg in Twillingate Harbour, Newfoundland (49° 40′N, 54° 46′W) was sounded from a helicopter using impulse radar, on 11 June 1977. The result was verified by simultaneous measurement of the iceberg's draft using side-scan sonar.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Cold Ocean Resources Engineering, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, Newfoundland, Canada

    JAMES R. ROSSITER & K. ANDREW GUSTAJTIS

Authors
  1. JAMES R. ROSSITER
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  2. K. ANDREW GUSTAJTIS
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ROSSITER, J., GUSTAJTIS, K. Iceberg sounding by impulse radar. Nature 271, 48–50 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/271048a0

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