QUANTITATIVE-ANALYSIS OF SEA-ICE DRAFT .1. METHODS FOR STOCHASTIC MODELING

This paper seeks to develop a robust set of tools for estimating the s tochastic properties of sea ice drafts. Five parameters are estimated, along with their formal uncertainties: mean draft, rms topographic va riation, characteristic length, fractal dimension, and normalized skew ness. These provide an objective basis for terrain classification. A r ecent 10-km by 10-km upward looking submarine sonar survey serves as a test case. Data profiles are compared with synthetic profiles generat ed from the statistical parameters estimated from the data. These prov ide a means of qualitatively assessing the success of the stochastic m odel at characterizing the principal morphological properties. In gene ral, the comparisons are good, providing confidence in the applicabili ty and versatility of the stochastic model. A few exceptions are notab le, but these also provide valuable insight into our understanding of the morphology of sea ice draft.