On the initial phase of consolidation

Three ice ridges have been artificially produced close to Svea in the Van Mijen fjord on Svalbard, Norway; one in 2002 (R1) and two in 2003 (R2 and R3). The temperature development in R1 and R2 was monitored for about 4 weeks and ice was sampled for measurements of salinity and hardness (of the rubble). The initial thickness of the consolidated layer was 0.10 and 0.32 m, the duration of the initial phase was 16 and 96 h, and the final thickness of the consolidated layer was about 0.70 and 0.72 m, respectively, in R1 and R2. A simple model to calculate the oceanic flux during the initial phase is explained; and the oceanic flux was about 230 and 63 W/m2 for R2 and R2, respectively. The larger keel in R2 was the main reason for the longer duration of the initial phase and the lower average oceanic flux.