Multiyear fast ice along the Taymyr Peninsula, Siberia

Abstract

A 20 km wide zone of fast ice, reaching offshore to the 20 m isobath and sealing off coastal embayments along the Taymyr Peninsula, survived until at least 23 November 1993, becoming multiyear land-fast sea ice (MLSI). Barrier islands show characteristic recurved spits indicating dominant southeastward direction of longshore transport in intermittent years. MLSI is considered an incipient ice shelf, which could grow in thickness and strength in successive winters. Salinity and δ18O profiles in ice cores from some smaller areas of MLSI provide a record of environmental conditions during the first year of ice growth, such as local hydrography and contribution of congealed snow to the solid fast ice. -from Authors