Traversing the High 80s Pt2

As we continued north during 23 July we saw increasing amounts of old ice, requiring us to back-and-ram several times. Between 88N and 88.6N (along an approximate meridian of 60E) we saw partial concentrations of old ice varying from 3/10 to 5/10, with a thickness of 200-300cm. Floes were usually Small, occasionally Medium, and as usual embedded in the larger First Year floes. Melt is 2-3/10; discrete ponds with open tops and solid bottoms.

The First Year ice in this same area consists of mostly Medium floes of 100-120cm-thick ice with melt concentration decreasing from 4/10 to 3/10 as we sailed north; linked ponds with open tops and some thaw holes.

We are seeing quite high pond freeboards (rough estimation 15-20cm) and also evidence that very small shallow ponds have drained completely. We are also again seeing the very large ponds seen on the last cruise – image below.

We expect to arrive at the North Pole either late tonight or early tomorrow morning and we will hopefully be able to measure pond depths and freeboard then.

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